Euclid council approves amended 2026 annual appropriation as emergency ordinance

Council President called the meeting to order Monday and the Euclid City Council voted to adopt an amended emergency ordinance making the annual appropriation for all city expenditures through Dec. 31, 2026. Administration described the measure as a framework based on prior-year spending and the product of three budget hearings.

Mayor—s administration said the budget maintains staffing commitments to public safety, funding 109 police officers and 90 firefighters, and includes a 3% across-the-board pay increase for city staff. "Police continue to be staffed in the budget at 109 officers and fire with 90 firefighters," administration said during the second-reading discussion. Officials also noted a once-every-eleven-years additional pay step and the addition of recreation and public-lands positions to support the recreation and wellness center and maintenance needs.

The amended ordinance recognizes and authorizes several transfers and fund allocations. Administration noted transfers from the general fund to the animal shelter ($200,000), recreation ($300,000), Shore Cultural Center ($270,000) and $125,000 to the street maintenance and construction fund. Staff said some contract costs (garbage, jail costs, utilities, dispatch) rose and that the budget retains flexibility for future amendments and monthly executive finance work sessions.

Council moved to amend the ordinance to reflect several capital-project line items the administration said had been included on a distributed amendment sheet but not listed in the original motion to amend. Director Cooney explained these were not new expenditures but the formal recognition of TIF funds already designated for projects, and he asked council to add those items to the ordinance record.

After closing debate, council took a roll-call vote and passed the emergency amended appropriation ordinance. The administration said the ordinance goes into effect immediately as an emergency measure, allowing the city to proceed with time-sensitive contract and procurement work without a 30-day waiting period.

The ordinance's immediate effect means the administration can proceed with already planned spending and begin work that relies on the new appropriation; council members said they would continue reviewing the budget monthly and at a planned series of executive finance work sessions.