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Roanoke council adopts FY27 budget; real property tax rate held at $1.22
Summary
Roanoke City Council adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget and reaffirmed the real property tax rate at $1.22 per $100 of assessed value on May 11. Council approved employee pay increases and increased baseline funding for city schools; two members recused themselves from the school appropriation because they work for Roanoke City Public Schools.
Roanoke City Council on May 11 adopted its fiscal year 2027 budget and reaffirmed the citys real property tax rate at $1.22 per $100 of assessed value, with the budget effective July 1, 2026.
Councilwoman Powers, who said she would support the budget, framed her vote with conditions on oversight: "This budget should not be treated as a static a fixed budget but analyzed and actively managed as our fiscal reality evolves," she said, urging constant departmental oversight and regular, detailed financial reporting from city management.
The adopted package includes a 2% pay increase for city employees, continued funding moves toward a living wage and maintained step pay for public safety, and an increase in baseline funding for Roanoke City Public Schools. The council also approved base budget reductions across departments while preserving essential services and adjusted the capital improvement plan to prioritize debt reduction and essential projects.
Two members disclosed conflicts before the school-appropriation vote. Vice Mayor Steven Terry Maguire stated, "I have a personal interest in agenda item two, number three, relating to the adoption of the annual school general and school food services budget for FY27. Because I am an employee of Roanoke City Public Schools ... I will refrain from participation in this matter." Councilwoman Vivian Sanchez Jones made an identical disclosure and requested the statements be entered into the minutes. With those recusals recorded, the remaining council members voted to appropriate the school funds for FY27.
Mayor Cobb and other council members praised staff for the yearlong budgeting process and emphasized the role of continued community engagement and intergovernmental cooperation. Council members identified priorities in the package as compensation for employees, school funding, transportation and infrastructure maintenance, and sustaining reserve funds to protect the citys credit rating.
The councils adoption of the budget followed a series of public hearings and two community meetings held in April to gather resident input. The city manager and finance staff will provide follow-up reports and regular financial updates to council as Powers requested.
The ordinance to adopt the budget as a whole passed on a roll-call vote. The school-appropriation ordinance was approved after Vice Mayor Maguire and Councilwoman Sanchez Jones recused themselves from that item.
