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Huron council holds first reading of $53.9M 2026 budget; finance committee backs stormwater fee increase and proposed fire levy
Summary
City Council gave first reading to the 2026 appropriations ordinance totaling $53.9 million, a $1.1 million reduction from 2025, with staff recommending a stormwater fee increase and a 1.5-mill fire levy on next year’s ballot to shore up fire and stormwater services.
HURON — The Huron City Council gave first reading Wednesday to the city’s proposed 2026 appropriations ordinance, setting total appropriations at $53,900,000 and outlining steps staff and the finance committee say are needed to move toward a balanced five‑year plan.
Council member Crater introduced ordinance 2025‑31 and Finance Committee representative Isaac Phillips reviewed highlights of the proposed budget, saying it reflects a $1,100,000 decrease from the 2025 budget. Phillips said the reduction “is not to be interpreted as a reduction in service to our residents, but to reflect the efforts to save where possible.”
The finance committee recommended two specific measures to improve fiscal stability: increasing the stormwater management fee from $5 per quarter to $5 per month and placing a 1.5‑mill operating fire levy on the ballot. Phillips told council the additional millage “would allow for the fire and EMS operations to continue without interruption and for deferred capital maintenance to be addressed.” Based on estimates from the county auditor, the levy was described as costing about $52.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year.
Council and staff framed the proposals as recommendations, not final policy. The budget’s first reading included a reminder that a public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23, 2025, before the final reading. Phillips said the city was “really close to getting to a five year balance point” but identified the fire and stormwater funds as the two that continue to struggle because of rising costs and limited revenue.
The proposed stormwater fee change was explained as addressing a roughly $80,000 annual revenue stream that, according to staff, is insufficient for larger stormwater work beyond routine catch‑basin maintenance and occasional line jetting. City staff emphasized that placing the levy or increasing the fee requires separate council action and, in the case of the levy, voter approval.
Next steps: the council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2026 municipal budget on Dec. 23, 2025, and may take further votes after that hearing.
