Erlanger council adopts $22.2 million FY2027 budget, approves funding for public safety facility and tax cuts

The Erlanger City Council on May 19 adopted the city's fiscal year 2027 budget, approving roughly $22,200,000 in revenue and $21,800,000 in expenditures and projecting a modest surplus while maintaining an estimated fund balance of about $17,800,000.

Mayor Jessica Feddy said the proposal continues 12 years of property tax rate reductions and includes a quarter‑point reduction in the insurance premium tax rate from 9.55 to 9.25. The budget also funds operational changes and capital steps, including the fire department's transition to a 24/72 schedule, a $1,100,000 investment in the first phase of the design‑build process and a $5,000,000 transfer toward future construction of a Department of Public Safety facility.

"Every line item was reviewed intentionally," Feddy said, praising department heads and staff for finding efficiencies and maintaining investments in employees, infrastructure, public safety, parks and community programming.

Councilmember Jasper Lucas said she supports the budget overall but urged greater transparency and planning around park spending, particularly dollars tied to the Eons Park project. Lucas said she has repeatedly requested installation cost estimates for equipment at Silver Lake Park and remains concerned that grant‑funded projects can create long‑term maintenance obligations.

"Grant funded projects still create long term obligations for the city," Lucas said. "There has been little to no discussion about how those expenses will be funded moving forward. I strongly believe a formal agreement between the city and the nonprofit organization should exist and should be approved by council." She said those concerns led her to scrutinize the relationship between the city and the Eons Preserve Fund even as she voted to approve the budget.

After discussion, the clerk called a roll and the ordinance adopting the FY2027 budget passed on a unanimous recorded vote: Miss Fields (yes), Miss Nicely (yes), Miss Wilson (yes), Miss Jasper Lucas (yes), Mister Farmer (yes), Miss Skidmore (yes), and Mister Hermes (yes). Mayor Feddy declared the motion carried.

The adopted budget includes unspecified implementation details for several projects; council members asked staff to continue providing cost estimates and clarifications, particularly around park installation and ongoing maintenance funding. The council also approved related budget language establishing how the public safety facility fund will integrate with the adopted budget.