Orrville council places 2026 appropriations on first reading; finance director outlines fund breakdown

Council on March 2 placed Resolution 4-26, the city's 2026 appropriations ordinance, on its first reading, advancing the measure that authorizes city spending for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026.

Finance Director Strumlin told the council the ordinance authorizes expenditures after March 31 and will proceed through three readings. "Just to give the totals, 3,400,000," Strumlin said, adding a breakdown "of that total, 60,800,000 is allocated for the enterprise funds, 9,400,000 to the general fund, and 13,200,000 for the tax supported funds." Council members will receive a line-item detail report and a recap of director-level changes before later readings.

Strumlin said a budget workshop is scheduled for Monday, March 9, immediately following the utility board meeting, when members will be able to review proposed capital projects and any adjustments. The director emphasized that most of the changes since the original budget relate to proposed 2026 capital projects.

The motion to place the ordinance on its first reading passed on a recorded vote. No final appropriation or adoption occurred at this meeting; council must complete the subsequent readings and any public-notice requirements before the ordinance could take effect.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for the second and third readings, and council will review detailed line items at the March 9 workshop.