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Council sets FY2026–27 maximum levy, adds $6,000 for Elderbridge and leaves $390,000 hanger set‑aside in budget draft
Summary
In a lengthy work session the council approved the FY2026–27 budget package to set the maximum levy, added a $6,000 allocation for Elderbridge, and left a $390,000 local‑option sales‑tax set‑aside for a potential airport hanger project while directing follow‑up research on several large requests.
Carroll City Council reviewed the proposed FY2026–27 budget and related local‑option sales tax priorities in a multi‑hour work session and approved the package as presented with one amendment: a $6,000 outside‑agency allocation to Elderbridge for services that include meals and home care.
Finance staff (Laura) presented the general‑government and community development budget items, including a request to keep funding for the regional housing trust (unchanged), audit contingency planning, possible copier replacement (vendor quote under $10,000), and insurance projections. She noted the city’s continued reliance on local option sales tax as a tool for capital projects and tax relief, and outlined proposed allocations: street restoration/resurfacing multi‑year program, downtown tourism/murals, and an airport hanger study/project funding request of $390,000 included in the draft.
Council extensively debated three contested or high‑visibility items: (1) a $390,000 set‑aside from local option sales tax for an airport hanger project (staff stressed that federal and state grant programs often require local match and that denying a match could forfeit large external funding opportunities); (2) a request from the local children’s museum for a large building purchase (councilers expressed reluctance to use public funds to buy private facility space and asked for alternatives); and (3) a request from Elderbridge for $6,000 (council approved adding the $6,000 allocation from local option sales tax after discussion about county contributions and service levels).
Deb and Jason suggested pursuing corporate sponsorships or private contributions for projects such as the airport hanger and asked staff to research potential partners. Council voted to set the maximum levy and to present the budget with the Elderbridge allocation; council also instructed staff to gather additional information on the airport hanger funding options and on the children’s museum proposal before any final commitments are made.
