Belmont council adopts $25.8 million FY2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady

Belmont’s City Council unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget on June 2, approving a spending plan staff described as providing operational support and infrastructure investment without raising the property tax rate.

City Manager Miles Brazwell told the council the general fund is budgeted at $25,796,545 and that the council is being asked to maintain the current property tax rate “at 0.45 cents per $100,” per the documents provided at the meeting. The budget package also included figures for enterprise funds and the five‑year capital improvement program, and staff said the packet on council desks contained a revised ordinance reflecting Local Government Commission guidance on fund‑balance reporting.

The budget funds eight new positions — three fire captains and five firefighters — and includes a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment with up to a 3% merit component for employees. Sworn police officers are slated to receive a $7,000 pay increase in the adopted plan. The water and sewer enterprise fund and the stormwater fund figures were presented in the packet; staff noted a planned 10.5% increase in both water and sewer rates and described transfers from the stormwater fund balance to capital projects.

Council discussed minor edits to the ordinance, including separating a listed fund balance appropriation as recommended by the LGC and clarifying valuation statements used in the levy language, and then voted to adopt the ordinance by unanimous voice vote.

The council’s adoption follows multiple budget workshops and staff review earlier in the year. Mayor Pro Tem and council members thanked department heads and staff for their work on the budget. The ordinance and budget documents are on file with the city. The council’s vote makes the ordinance effective as published and begins the next fiscal year under the adopted spending and revenue assumptions.