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Fort Thomas council moves to adopt 2026–27 budget, debates carryover and GROW grant language
Summary
Fort Thomas council approved readings and motions to adopt the city's fiscal 2026–27 budgets and a pay plan adjustment. Public commentators pressed council for clarification on a roughly $695,000 CBD loan and urged tighter rules for a GROW grant line item before disbursement.
The Fort Thomas City Council on June 15 moved forward to adopt its fiscal 2026–27 budgets after council members discussed carryovers from the prior year and minor line-item adjustments.
Council considered an amendment to the current general fund budget and then proceeded to read and approve ordinances adopting the general fund, municipal road, debt service, capital projects, health insurance and waste disposal budgets for the July 1, 2026'to'June 30, 2027 fiscal year. A separate ordinance adjusted the city's pay classification plan; council noted the change lowers the community engagement coordinator's payback in the plan as listed.
The moves came after public questions about prior-year carryovers and specific grant line items. Sharon McNite asked whether the roughly $695,000 CBD loan shown in the budget was intended for the city building remodel, and sought the loan's origination date, term and interest rate; staff said they would follow up with the precise records. Council members clarified that a $60,000 item listed as an expense in the prior year had not been spent and would be carried forward into the general fund rather than treated as a new expense for 2026'27.
Separately, a council member asked that the GROW grant language be tightened before approving a particular line item, expressing concern about using taxpayer dollars to cover routine landlord operational costs. The statement asked for language to prevent the wealthy landlord from using the grant to cover structural or ongoing private operating expenses; members agreed the line should be reviewed and clarified.
Motions to move the ordinances forward were made, seconded and called for approval. The council discussed roll-call procedures and the mechanics of amendments and carryovers but did not record a detailed roll-call division in the public remarks captured in the transcript.
The most immediate next steps recorded were staff follow-up: (1) provide documentation about the CBD loan (origination date, stated purpose, term and interest rate) and (2) return proposed revised language for the GROW grant line item so the council can confirm eligibility criteria and limits before final disbursement.
