Erlanger City Council gives first reading to 2026–27 budget; member asks that answers be shared before second reading

The Erlanger City Council gave the first reading of an ordinance to adopt a city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, at a special meeting on May 5.

Mister Gallen read the ordinance summary describing revenues, expenditures and ending fund balances and told the council that “no money shall be expended by or on behalf of the city of Erlanger except in accordance with that adopted budget.” The Chair asked the clerk, Ms. Hoffman, to note the first reading in the minutes.

Why this matters: final adoption of the budget will set the city’s spending limits for the coming fiscal year and guide departmental allocations. The ordinance now proceeds to a second reading and any subsequent vote required by Erlanger’s ordinance process.

During the discussion period, Mister Hermes explained he had missed a mandatory budget boot camp on April 28 because he attended a memorial service for his father; he said he had read the budget and submitted questions in advance. Another council member objected to moving forward that evening, saying answers to their submitted budget questions had been sent by email at about 5:09 p.m. and that they had been unable to read the responses while driving. That member said the answers could affect their vote on a second reading and asked that the answers be shared with the council and that an ad hoc budget committee meeting be scheduled.

Mister Gallen described the personnel and budget documents as routine and noted an attached summary budget and spreadsheets showing proposed changes. No final vote on the budget ordinance was taken at the meeting; the ordinance received a first reading only.

The meeting concluded after a voice vote to adjourn was carried. The next formal action on the budget will be the ordinance’s second reading, at which time council members may vote to adopt or amend the proposal.