South Beloit council adopts 2026 budget, declines a tax-levy increase
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Summary
The South Beloit City Council approved the 2026 budget at the Dec. 1 meeting after discussing a roughly $2 million increase planned for the fire department; the council did not raise the tax levy, and routine claims including demolition and parking-lot payments were noted.
The South Beloit City Council approved the city’s 2026 budget on Dec. 1, 2025, after members confirmed the spending plan includes a larger allocation for the fire department.
Council members voted to adopt Ordinance 28-91 (referred to in the meeting as ordinance 2891), the city administrator said. Speaker 2 highlighted that the budget includes about a $2,000,000 increase for the fire department compared with the prior year and said the council chose not to implement a higher tax levy to cover those costs.
The meeting also included presentation of claims totaling $767,003.88 for Nov. 15–28, 2025. Speaker 2 identified two large items among those bills: a final payment of roughly $177,000 for the Garden Hotel demolition and about $172,000 for a new parking lot on Downer Drive.
City staff noted some budget uncertainties remain: the city has not yet filled a permanent fire chief position and staffing decisions (full-time versus part-time) could change actual costs. The administrator said certain year-end emergency repairs and vehicle maintenance will appear on coming bills and will receive retroactive council approval where appropriate.
The council approved the budget by roll-call vote; members present answered “yes” during the vote sequence recorded in the meeting minutes. The council plans to reconvene in two weeks for routine items and to consider a separate decision on a pulled street repair (Forest Park) at the Dec. 15 meeting.
