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Conway City Council adopts 2026 budget after debate over 9-1-1 costs, community center shortfall and debt paydown options
Summary
Conway City Council approved the $2026 budget with an emergency clause after hearing that the city will shoulder roughly $760,000 of 9-1-1 center costs, plug a $600,000 community-center shortfall with fund balance and consider partial early payoff of a recent loan.
Conway City Council voted unanimously to adopt the 2026 budget, including an emergency clause, after extended discussion about how to cover rising public-safety and facility costs.
The ordinance (O25112) was moved and seconded and carried 8 to 0. The council approved a set of spending plans that include a 1% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, six added firefighter positions and five positions across other departments, while balancing the budget through a mix of revenue estimates, targeted cuts to department operational levels and use of fund balance for certain shortfalls.
Finance director Tyler Wingham told the council the city faces several unavoidable pressures: annual loan payments for a combined fire-truck and 9-1-1 radio upgrade total about $887,000; the 9-1-1 PSAP is budgeted with a roughly $760,000 general-fund impact in 2026 after expected reimbursements; and the new community center shows a $600,000 projected deficit included in the budget as a fund-balance appropriation. “This…
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