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Chickasha adopts FY 2026–27 budget after finance director warns of $1.5 million sales-tax shortfall
Summary
The Chickasha City Council on June 1 adopted the FY 2026–27 budget after a presentation by the city's finance lead noting a $1.5 million sales-tax projection shortfall and a roughly $700,000 total shortfall across revenue sources; the budget keeps spending largely flat while funding several capital projects.
The Chickasha City Council on June 1 adopted a FY 2026—6–27 budget described by city finance staff as a stabilization plan to address revenue shortfalls.
"From the very beginning ... we are $1,500,000 behind," Rich, the city's finance lead/CFO (speaker 10), told the council during a public hearing and budget presentation. He said that, when all revenue sources are combined, the total shortfall is roughly $700,000 but the sales-tax projection alone was $1.5 million lower than earlier estimates.
The administration characterized the budget as "essentially a flat budget" that nonetheless preserves funding for prioritized capital work. Rich outlined capital allocations that remain in the proposed plan: $2,200,000 for water and sewer improvements to address downtown sewer backups, $1,000,000 for a 4th and Grand lane expansion (pending easement work), $1,000,000 for improvements at Lake Chickasha related to dam concerns flagged by the state, $1,000,000 for street projects and $1,000,000 for stormwater improvements. He also said the city faces an across-the-board health-insurance increase of about 20 percent.
Council members asked how revenue projections were built. Rich said projections are based on historical collections and expected growth from new development, but noted timing lags between new businesses opening and the city receiving sales-tax receipts. "You gotta pick a number," Rich said, acknowledging uncertainty in projection work.
After discussion, the council voted to approve Resolution 2026-15R to adopt the budget as presented. The roll call recorded unanimous approval in the transcript.
What happens next: City staff said the budget will be ratified at a subsequent meeting as required by procedure. The approved plan keeps the city's capital priorities in place while asking department heads to work within a constrained general-fund environment.
