Macomb officials present amended FY25–26 budget and proposed FY26–27 with water, wastewater and capital projects

City Administrator Scott Coker presented the Committee of the Whole with an official amended FY25–26 budget and an overview of the proposed FY26–27 budget, telling aldermen the amendment helps auditors and is a sound financial-management practice.

Coker listed revenue updates including a special-census reimbursement and an insurance stop-loss recovery; he also cited higher sales tax receipts and changes to use-tax reporting from the Illinois Department of Revenue. He said the city is creating separate funds for a sports complex and a business development district and has added a grants subdepartment to track awards. "This is the first year that we are... proposing an official amended budget," Coker said.

On capital needs, Coker said bids received for a new water plant and wastewater-plant upgrades were favorable. Specific equipment and projects noted in the presentation included a programmed $150,000 generator for city hall, a $500,000 jetter truck for wastewater, $420,000 for a street sweeper, a backlog of water-main and hydrant work, and lead service-line replacement budgeting for work that grants may not cover inside private homes. He also said there is a new Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) mandate coming for wastewater to remove phosphorus and nitrogen and that staff plan to start design and engineering work.

Coker told the committee the budget contains a 4% pay increase for full-time employees that matches collective-bargaining agreements. He pointed to TIF-funded programs including $150,000 for Eastside housing rehabilitation, $100,000 for downtown façade grants and $50,000 in the west-side TIF.

Coker also said Glenwood Pool has been taken offline because shoring and repair costs were too high; staff are working on alternatives and noted the park district could help manage Glenwood Park if the city provides capital. On cash balances, he said the projection is at the city's $5,000,000 target and that the proposed budget shows about $1.9 million in deficit spending that the city views as within conservative expectations. (The transcript contains a garbled large numeric string; the presenter reiterated a $5,000,000 target.)

Council members asked for follow-up on how strategic-plan initiatives align with the budget and raised questions about Go West transit funding; Coker said state transit legislation and university matching funds improve the near-term outlook and that staff will keep pursuing other revenue sources.

The committee asked no formal questions that changed the package and placed the items on the next council agenda.