Oak Ridge council adopts FY2027 budget and approves CDBG sidewalk funding

Oak Ridge — The City Council completed the two readings needed to adopt amendments to the current fiscal year budget and to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget, and it approved HUD-required Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning documents that include a sidewalk project next year.

Miss Bates, the staff presenter, told council the FY2026 amendments included a $300,000 appropriation for Oak Ridge Schools related to a grant and that changes to the waterworks fund involved reclassifying a project as capital maintenance; she said there is no net change to the general fund bottom line. "There haven't been any changes to this ordinance since the 1st reading," Miss Bates said. Council voted 7–0 to adopt the FY2026 amendments.

Council then opened the public hearing and adopted the FY2027 budget by voice vote. As part of HUD-required materials, council adopted a three-year consolidated plan and a one-year Annual Action Plan that include $197,000 for program year 2026; staff said approximately $195,000 of that amount would be used for a sidewalk adjacent to the Children's Museum on West Outer Drive and Highland Avenue. Miss Williams said the CDBG funds must be spent in low-to-moderate-income census tracts and that staff identified potential future sidewalk and ADA-transition projects with community input.

Council approved the budget and the CDBG consolidated plan by unanimous votes. Staff said the city expects to receive similar annual CDBG allocations for the next two years but that exact future amounts depend on federal formulas.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with project scoping and public hearings required for CDBG-funded projects and will publish any grant-related notices as required by HUD.