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Marion council adopts FY2026–27 budget with raises, capital investments and ARPA reserves
Summary
The Marion Town Council unanimously adopted the FY2026–27 budget, approving a 3% cost-of-living raise for employees, capital allocations including $600,000 for paving and $500,000 toward Kalan Drive Rec Park (with matching funds), a 5% proposed water and sewer increase and a policy to reserve $3–3.5 million in ARPA funds for one-time uses.
The Marion Town Council unanimously approved the town’s FY2026–27 budget on June 15, adopting a plan that includes a 3% cost-of-living raise for employees and targeted capital investments.
Town manager Andrew Keane told the council operational expenditures were largely flat year over year but highlighted several notable changes: an 11.7% increase in health insurance premiums (with the town covering roughly 85–86% of employee premiums, depending on plan), a proposed 5% increase to water and sewer rates, and a $600,000 allocation for paving. Keane also flagged $500,000 in the budget earmarked for Kalan Drive Recreation Park; staff plan to pair that with matching grant funds.
Keane said the administration intends to treat roughly $3 million to $3.5 million of remaining ARPA funds as one-time money and avoid funding ongoing operating costs from those reserves. He also reported an accelerated payoff plan for four loans targeted to be paid off in FY27 if revenue and expense assumptions hold.
Council members asked clarifying questions during the discussion but did not propose separate line-item votes. After a motion to approve the full package, the council conducted a roll-call vote and adopted the budget unanimously.
The budget document also lists capital equipment requests: police vehicles ($120,000), a public‑works wheel loader ($216,000) and extraction tools for the fire department ($46,000), among other items. Keane said the town is pursuing matching grant opportunities that could increase some capital investments beyond the local appropriation.
Next steps: The council adopted the budget at the June 15 meeting; staff said they could revisit any necessary adjustments at the scheduled June 30 close-the-books meeting if issues arise.
