Bristol council reviews FY27 budget workshop; finance staff outline debt plan, staffing requests and $11.3M CIP

Miss Bradlin, the city manager and finance presenter, opened the called meeting with a quarter-ended financial report, saying, “This is the financial information for the quarter ended December 31st, 2025.” She reported the general fund budget at $128.4 million, revenues of $72.5 million (56% of budget) and expenditures of $76.836 million (60% of budget), producing a fund deficit of about $4.3 million largely tied to the fall payoff of 2023 bond anticipation notes.

Bradlin said local revenue accounted for roughly 82% of general fund receipts through Dec. 31, state revenue about 15% and federal revenue about 3%. She noted that lodging and restaurant meal taxes rose across the periods shown while local sales tax was down from the prior year, and told council staff will monitor trends and adjust FY27 projections.

The city manager presented a written debt-payment plan that includes the city’s obligations for new school debt (which flows through the IDA) and reported committed reserve funds of roughly $3.6 million to smooth near-term debt service. She said some school grant monies have been used to offset payments and are expected to be exhausted by FY28.

On compensation, Bradlin outlined possible salary increases tied to state action: a 2% increase would cost the city about $455,000 and a 3% increase about $680,000. She also reported a VRS rate decrease that will save roughly $38,000 and confirmed the state has approved a 2% FY26 bonus that would cost the city about $355,000; she recommended using vacancy savings to cover some bonus costs.

Bradlin described a public works “phase one” salary-correction plan to help recruit and retain equipment operators, laborers, park technicians, traffic technicians and mechanics. On health insurance, she said the city’s Anthem plan will cost the locality an estimated $495,000 next year and described a significant change to prescription benefits: mid-tier drugs will be subject to a $150 deductible before a $30 copay, which she warned could make a drug that now costs $30 cost “most likely … $180” on first fill. She said finance and HR will promote flexible spending accounts and communicate changes to employees.

Staff requested 28.52 full-time equivalent positions for FY27 across multiple departments, including a budgeted city attorney slot, IT technical and ERP positions, a paralegal for the Commonwealth’s attorney, a part-time crime-prevention officer and multiple public works and parks positions. The council was told the 28.52 FTE request would cost about $1.8 million.

Bradlin reviewed department-level requests over $10,000 — from IT equipment and licensing to fire station concrete repairs, police radio upgrades and solid-waste engineering for landfill work. She also presented outside-agency funding requests (for example, Explore Bristol requested $150,000 and Theater Bristol requested $100,000).

The proposed FY27 capital improvement program totals about $11.319 million and includes state-funded infrastructure projects (Lee Highway work, bridge rehabilitations, pedestrian signals) and local projects such as election tabulator replacements, an aerial ladder truck procurement (lease payments to begin FY28), and the Creekside Trail Bridge repair ($600,000). A fleet rotation plan of about $1.665 million would replace police, collections and other vehicles annually rather than relying on debt.

Bradlin closed by outlining the calendar: a March 24 workshop on revenues, an April 14 budget presentation and tax-rate resolution (she said there was no indication of a tax-rate increase), an April 28 public hearing, a May 12 first reading of the appropriation ordinance and a May 26 second reading and adoption before June 30.

Mayor Holmes and other council members praised staff planning and emphasized the importance of investing in employees and infrastructure while acknowledging a tight budget outlook. The meeting ended without any budget votes; the council adjourned after a roll-call vote to end the session.