Auburn council adopts FY27 school and municipal budgets and approves CIP bonds

The Auburn City Council on May 4 adopted the fiscal year 2027 school and municipal budgets and approved capital borrowing for the city’s FY27 capital improvement program.

Council voted to adopt the Auburn School Department FY27 budget (Order 405042026) by show of hands: six in favor and one opposed. Councilors said the school department plans to treat the related bond as tax-neutral and to cover debt service with operational savings tied to a proposed reconfiguration that would move sixth graders to Auburn Middle School and allow closing a facility. Councilor Adam Platt summarized the school approach: “The school department has been tasked with covering the debt service out of this bond with any operational savings that would come from this move,” he said.

Council later adopted the municipal appropriations resolve combining city and school budgets (Resolve 02054206) by roll call, six in favor and one opposed. During debate members noted several cost drivers outside the council’s immediate control — the public safety bond debt service, county tax increases and changes to waste‑to‑energy tipping fees — and said staff worked to narrow an initially larger proposed increase.

On capital borrowing, Council approved Order 420542026 authorizing general obligation bonds in the amount of $11,776,000 for the FY27 capital improvement program. After public comment and debate, the roll-call vote passed 5–2. Council members described the amount as largely replacing retired principal and maintaining a relatively stable debt-service profile while funding roads, sidewalks and other projects.

The separate order to authorize general obligation bonds of up to $11,200,000 for additions and renovations at Auburn Middle School (Order 4105042026) was taken up for first reading and discussion; no final vote on that bond was recorded at the meeting. Councilors discussed projected savings tied to the plan — a school representative cited $20,700,000 in savings over 10 years and a net savings of about $7.25 million — while some members said any school closures would require a public process.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 0704212026 (citation system/code enforcement): adopted 7–0. - Ordinance 0804212026 (penalties/violations): adopted 7–0. - Order 405042026 (Auburn School Department FY27 budget): adopted 6–1. - Order 420542026 (GO bonds — FY27 CIP, $11,776,000): adopted 5–2. - Resolve 02054206 (2026–2027 appropriations resolve): adopted 6–1. - Order 4105042026 (GO bonds up to $11.2M for Auburn Middle School): taken as first reading; no final vote recorded.

What’s next: The school bond for Auburn Middle School will return for subsequent readings as required by ordinance and bond procedures; capital projects funded by the CIP bond will proceed to implementation according to department schedules and appropriation authority.