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Saint Mary's council adopts 2026 tax levy and budget, approves management wage schedule
Summary
City council approved Ordinance No. 346 setting the 2026 levy, adopted Resolution No. 25-25 (the 2026 budget), and approved a 2026 wage schedule for management employees after brief discussion; public comment on the budget hearing was closed with no speakers during the hearing period.
The Saint Mary's City Council voted to adopt the citys 2026 tax levy and budget and approved a 2026 wage schedule for management employees at its Dec. 15 meeting.
In a voice vote the council adopted Ordinance No. 346, the levy and assessment of taxes for fiscal year 2026, following a motion and second recorded on the floor. Minutes show the ordinance was approved after the chair called for the ayes and declared the motion carried. The council then moved to adopt Resolution No. 25-25, which the chair likewise announced as approved by voice vote. Council members also approved the 2026 wage schedule for management staff after a motion and second.
The council opened a public hearing on the 2026 budget at 7:22 p.m. and closed the hearing within minutes after no members of the public spoke during the hearing period; later in the meeting residents raised questions about how specific line items are presented in the budget (see pool article). The city treasurer reported general fund revenue through November of about $7.9 million (roughly 89% of budget) and expenditures of about $8.6 million (about 96% of budget), and noted real estate tax and earned-income tax collections were at historic percentages.
City staff said that long-term capital accounts (PLGIT accounts) include placeholder numbers for potential projects in future years and are not a binding commitment to spend. The council and staff reiterated that grant applications and external funding are expected to support major capital projects to limit taxpayer burden.
The council approved the motions by voice vote; the official minutes record the motions and the chairs announcement that the ayes carried. The council also announced a reorganizational meeting for Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Council Room at City Hall.
