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Cary board adopts 2026–27 budget, shifts $300,000 in sales-tax gains to capital amid al fresco cost rise
Summary
The Village of Cary on April 7 adopted a balanced fiscal year 2026–27 operating and capital budget that redirects a $300,000 sales-tax projection increase to capital to cover higher estimates for the al fresco alley project, which staff said rose about $575,000 after refined design work.
The Village of Cary board approved its annual operating and capital budget for May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, during its April 7 meeting, adopting a balanced plan that redirects newly projected sales-tax revenue to capital projects.
Assistant Administrator Kelly, speaking remotely, told the board that staff re-ran sales-tax projections and increased the general-fund sales-tax estimate by $300,000, and that the village will transfer that entire amount to capital. "We increased those sales tax revenue numbers by $300,000 in the general fund budget," Kelly said. The change, Kelly added, does not alter the general fund ending balance because the revenue is being moved into capital.
The board also approved several line-item adjustments staff described at the meeting: an additional $15,000 for legal fees, a 10% across-the-board increase in fuel-cost projections, a roughly $20,000 decrease in leased-vehicle costs based on updated figures from Enterprise, and a roughly $20,000 downward revision to TIF 3 property-tax revenue projections from McHenry County.
The largest change affecting capital was the al fresco alley project. Staff reported that refined design, engineering and utility-work estimates increased the projected cost for the remainder of the project by about $575,000 compared with the estimate presented March 10. Staff said the figure reflects known utility conflicts, foundation requirements for shade structures and electrical work; decking was treated as an alternate and excluded from the current budget. "Those were early conceptual estimates; refined design work and engineering survey...we now know more of the details and the exact quantities," staff said during discussion.
Board members pressed staff on why the estimate rose so substantially; staff replied that utilities, foundations for shade structures and electrical requirements drove the higher numbers and that decking remains an optional add-on for a later date.
After discussion, the board approved the budget by roll call vote. The meeting record shows the vote recorded as all present responding "yes." The board president said the village remains on a conservative projection path while accommodating the revised capital projections.
The board approved the budget at the meeting and will proceed to implement the capital transfers and project planning described in the adopted document.
