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Saint Francis council approves $12.68 million 2026 budget after public hearing; residents urge different plan for 'Triangle'
Summary
The Common Council approved the city’s 2026 financial budget of $12,681,932 after a public hearing in which residents opposed a proposed high‑rise plan for the city‑owned Triangle (TID 5). City staff said the Triangle is not yet an active project and no detailed PUD or expenditures are in the budget.
The Saint Francis Common Council approved the city’s 2026 financial budget in the amount of $12,681,932 during its regular meeting. Council members moved and adopted the budget after a public hearing and separate motion to place finance committee minutes on file.
Residents who spoke at the public hearing urged the council to reconsider the form of development proposed for the Triangle property in TID 5. ‘‘We’re against this development of the triangle,’’ said Marty Sahorski, who urged condominiums or townhomes and a town‑square design rather than high‑rise apartments and large surface parking that he said would drain toward his backyard. William Gerloff, a longtime homeowner, suggested dividing the parcel for single‑family lots with small retail and green space to encourage longer‑term residency and broaden property‑tax benefits.
City administration clarified the budget’s treatment of the Triangle and TID 5. Mark Johnsrut said TID 5 in the budget contains only expenditures tied to existing projects and that ‘‘the Triangle property is not an existing project’’; he added developers have submitted only an initial PUD and that detailed negotiations have not started. Staff said any incentive payments for prior projects would appear in the expenditure portion of TID 5 (fund 46), but that there are no expenditures for the Triangle in the current budget.
A council member asked during the budget action whether the tax levy could be approved as part of or outside the budget process; the question was raised on the floor during the motions. The council approved the budget by voice vote ('Aye; Ayes have it').
Next steps noted by staff include additional planning commission review of the Triangle development when a detailed PUD is submitted; staff indicated they expect greater clarity when the project is brought to the planning commission in January or February.
Provenance: The budget hearing, resident statements about the Triangle, staff responses about TID 5 and the budget, and the motion to adopt the 2026 budget are recorded in the meeting transcript between the start of the public hearing and the approval motions.
