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Ottawa adopts fiscal 2027 operating budget despite $1.3 million overall deficit
Summary
The Ottawa City Council adopted the fiscal 2027 operating budget, effective May 1, 2026; City Treasurer Don Harris said the General Corporate Fund is balanced but the full budget shows a $1.3 million deficit. The ordinance passed unanimously after a public hearing with no comments.
The Ottawa City Council on April 21 adopted an ordinance approving the city’s Operating Budget for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2026. Commissioner Wayne E. Eichelkraut Jr. moved the ordinance, Commissioner Brent Barron seconded it, and the measure passed unanimously.
City Treasurer Don Harris told the council during the public hearing that the General Corporate Fund is balanced. Harris added that the entire FY27 budget carries a $1.3 million deficit. There were no public comments during the hearing, and Mayor Robert Hasty closed the hearing at 7:03 p.m.
The ordinance had been on file for public inspection since April 10, 2026. The council’s action formalizes the spending plan for the coming fiscal year; the minutes provided to the council do not list the budget’s revenue assumptions or line-item changes beyond the Treasurer’s summary that the General Corporate Fund is balanced but the total budget is not.
The vote was recorded as Ayes: Eichelkraut, Ganiere, Pearson, Barron and Mayor Hasty; Nays: None. The council also received and placed on file the Monthly Financial Report of City Clerk Shelly L. Roalson for March 2026 earlier in the meeting.
Next steps: the adopted ordinance takes effect May 1, 2026. The minutes do not state whether the council discussed specific deficit-closing measures; no additional direction to staff was recorded in the meeting minutes.
