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Town of Normal adopts 2026–27 budget despite dissent over underpass, EDC funding and fire response
Summary
The Town of Normal adopted its FY 2026–27 operating and capital budget on March 16, 2026, by a 5–1 vote. Council debate centered on the Uptown underpass cost escalation and contractor withdrawal, a $100,000 Economic Development Council allocation, water/sewer rate assumptions and fire/EMS staffing and response goals.
The Town of Normal council adopted the operating and capital investment budget for fiscal year 2026–27 on March 16, 2026, in a 5–1 roll call vote.
Councilmember Lorenz cast the lone dissenting vote, saying she could not support the package as presented. "I can't support this budget," she said, citing concerns about the Uptown underpass, a lack of tax relief for residents and what she described as insufficient near‑term steps on fire and EMS response.
The ordinance sets planning assumptions that include a continued 2% annual water and sewer rate increase used for multi‑year forecasting. Councilmember Smith highlighted that the 2% rate assumption is carried through the forecast for planning purposes and that staff will return to council in June to discuss rate structure changes as needed.
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