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Council approves 2026 budget and tax levies, adopts several ordinances
Summary
The Duluth City Council approved the 2026 city budget and related tax levies, passed the Duluth Transit Authority operating budget, and adopted ordinances affecting the parks levy and taxing district; several motions passed unanimously and one measure had abstentions.
The Duluth City Council approved a package of budget and tax measures at its final 2025 meeting, adopting ordinances and resolutions the administration and finance staff had recommended for the 2026 fiscal year.
Key outcomes:
- Resolution 945 (Duluth Transit Authority operating budget for 1/1/2026–12/31/2026) was removed from the table, moved and approved 9–0.
- Ordinance 34 (special parks fund levy for 2026) passed 9–0 after council remarks noting long-term deferred maintenance and constrained park funding.
- Ordinance 35 (general purposes levy for 2026) passed 8–1.
- Ordinance 36 (2026 budget and appropriations) was moved and approved; council remarks thanked finance staff for reducing the levy increase and highlighted continued structural deficit risk for 2026.
- Ordinance 38 (taxing district amount for the Duluth Transit Authority) passed 9–0.
- Resolution 967 (temporary construction easement in Lincoln Park) passed with 7 votes and 2 abstentions due to employment conflicts disclosed by two councilors.
Mayor Roger Reinhardt, in closing remarks, summarized 2025 infrastructure accomplishments (36 miles of reconstructed roads over two years, replacement of roughly 2,000 lead service lines, progress on downtown projects) and warned the council that the city’s projected structural deficit would require difficult choices next year.
The council completed routine ordinance readings and nominations for next-year officers before adjourning.
