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El Mirage adopts FY2026–27 spending limit and budget after public hearing; three councilmembers vote no
Summary
After a public hearing on the tax levy and final budget, the El Mirage Common Council adopted Resolution R26‑6‑11 to set a $117,096,000 spending limitation for FY2026–27 in a special meeting; the resolution passed by roll call with four ayes and three nays.
El Mirage officials held a public hearing on June 2 to present the final budget and proposed property‑tax levies and then convened a special meeting to adopt the FY2026–27 spending limitation and budget. Macy, the budget presenter, summarized prior steps (notice of intent, budget work session and tentative budget) and presented the proposed tax rates and fund-level changes.
Macy said the proposed primary property tax rate is 1.547, down from the current 1.6596; the proposed secondary rate is 0.8275, down from 0.9778. The tentative budget and subsequent updates reflect growth assumptions, with citywide expenditures and revenue sources summarized by fund. Macy reported a total budget figure used during the presentation and highlighted that capital outlay and personnel together constituted a large share of budgeted expenditures.
During the public‑hearing portion, multiple residents urged greater transparency and questioned the size of the proposed budget and apparent reserve behavior. Residents asked how unspent budget allocations are handled; staff said the city does not maintain a labeled “rainy day fund” but instead maintains reserve thresholds in the general fund (staff described a reserve threshold of $14,000,000 and a $10,000,000 special project set‑aside for grants). Staff said they would follow up on requests for detail concerning spending carryovers and transfers.
After closing the public hearing, the council convened a special meeting and considered Resolution R26‑6‑11 to adopt the FY2026–27 spending limitation and the city budget totaling $117,096,000. In the roll‑call vote on the resolution, Vice Mayor Parsons and Councilmember Dorsey voted aye, while Councilmembers Aldridge, Gentry and Norton (listed on the roll as Nora McDaniel in the transcript) recorded nays; Councilmember Winston and Mayor Hermosillo registered ayes. The mayor declared, “the ayes have it,” and the resolution carried.
No amendments or budget reductions were made at the meeting. Staff noted next steps would include adopting the property tax levy on the scheduled date (June 16) and providing requested clarifications to councilmembers and interested residents.
The council also approved a motion to convene a special meeting to finalize the budget estimates before adopting the resolution; no litigation, bond measures or new fees were adopted at the special meeting.
