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Caro City Council reviews FY 2026-27 budget; departments seek funds for tennis courts, street projects and a vehicle
Summary
City of Caro councilmembers and staff reviewed the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget May 11, 2026, focusing on Parks & Recreation capital needs (including tennis courts), DDA façade and street-light projects, multiple public-works street projects and a motor-pool vehicle purchase. No formal votes were taken at the workshop.
The City of Caro City Council held a budget workshop on May 11, 2026, to review the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and departmental requests. Mayor Karen Snider presided; council members Emily Campbell, Charlotte Kish, John Riley and Jill White were present, and Doreen Oedy and Heidi Parker were absent.
City staff framed the session as a review of revenues, expenditures, departmental requests, capital improvements and related financial matters. Departments presented line-item needs and capital priorities but the workshop did not include formal action or votes.
Carrie Will, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, outlined department budget items including retirement, operations and maintenance supplies, recreation programming, staff education and travel, and capital outlay. Staff noted capital outlay items could be covered by potential grants; Parks & Recreation made a specific request that funding for tennis courts be included regardless of grant awards, with the understanding that if grants are not received those funds would revert to the general fund.
Sonya Otremba, Downtown Development Authority Treasurer, reviewed DDA budget lines that include hospitalization coverage, seasonal staffing, luncheons, downtown music programming, education and dues, and capital outlay priorities such as street lights, a façade-improvement program and parking-lot maintenance. Otremba also flagged Farmers Market operational expenses for consideration.
Tom Reese, Department of Public Works Superintendent, presented multiple public-works requests across funds: contracted construction and engineering for the E. Sherman Street project in the Major Streets Fund; a mandated M24 tree-trimming expense; increased contracted services for LED lights in administration; contracted work for the Howard Street project in Local Streets Funds; and requests for alley projects in the Municipal Streets Fund (staff noted no sidewalk project is scheduled for FY 2026-2027). Reese also reviewed meter-reading needs, including new meter updates and equipment rental, and requested capital outlay for a new motor-pool vehicle.
Throughout the workshop staff and council reviewed how potential grants could affect capital outlay lines and identified several items for further refinement in the formal budget process. There was no formal vote during the workshop; the session concluded and was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
