Murray mayor presents tentative FY2026–27 budget, proposes 9.8% city property-tax levy increase

Mayor Hails presented his tentative fiscal-year 2026–27 budget on April 21, framing it as an effort to preserve services, invest in infrastructure and retain staff amid rising costs. The proposed general-fund revenue total is about $66 million, and the budget includes a modest cost-of-living increase for employees and continued investments in public safety and infrastructure.

"Nearly 70% of our general fund is invested in people," Hails said, emphasizing that the budget prioritizes police, fire and core services. The mayor noted rising insurance and operational costs and said the budget seeks to maintain patrol strength and other service levels rather than expand them.

Finance officer Brenda Moore read the statutorily required property-tax impact schedule: the mayor’s proposed budget requires roughly $1,224,110 in new property-tax revenue — about a 9.8% increase in Murray’s certified levy compared with calendar year 2025. Moore said the estimated share would fund an additional police position, overtime for police and fire, pay‑range increases for sworn personnel and a portion of rising health‑insurance premiums. For a primary residence with last year’s median value, she said the increase would be roughly $45.60 per year (about $3.80 per month).

Council voted 4–0 to acknowledge receipt of the tentative budget and referred it to the council’s Budget & Finance Committee for review. Moore said a formal public hearing on the certified rate would be held in August after county growth figures are finalized.

What happens next: The council will review the mayor’s tentative budget in committee and through public process this summer; the property-tax levy remains provisional until the August public hearing and the county-certified figures are available.