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City administrator presents $32.7 million proposed 2026 budget for Bridgeton
Summary
City administrator Kevin Bookout presented a $32,733,585 proposed budget for 2026 that includes a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment for full-time employees, $2.1 million in pension contributions, a planned $10 million unreserved fund balance and a one-position net reduction; the council tabled formal adoption.
City administrator Kevin Bookout presented the proposed 2026 annual budget for the city of Bridgeton, saying the plan totals $32,733,585 and outlines steps to strengthen the city's reserves and cover pension obligations.
Bookout told the council the proposed operating expenditures for the general fund are about $23.9 million, and the budget includes a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment for full-time employees and $2.1 million in pension contributions. "The proposed annual budget for the city of Bridgeton for 2026 is $32,733,585," Bookout said. He said approximately $1,350,000 of the pension amount is maintenance contributions for the legacy plan and roughly $733,000 is for loggers (as presented).
Bookout said the anticipated unreserved fund balance at the end of 2026 will be $10,000,000, which he said equates to roughly 46% of general-fund operating expenditures. He also outlined capital outlay of $1,751,225 across departments, and described a net reduction of one full-time position for 2026 (police staffing from 62 to 61 employees), which he said stemmed from a recommendation by Chief Massotti. As part of budget adjustments, Bookout recommended trimming $150,000 from a $200,000 stormwater line and $100,000 from a planned $200,000 accounting/software line and asked the council to consider those changes prior to perfection.
Council member Patel read the ordinance language for first reading of the budget (Bill 65-19), which listed the same total of $32,733,585 and broke that amount into operational expenditures ($26,076,605), debt service ($2,337,755) and capital/TIF expenditures (amount reported in the reading). After presentation and a brief opportunity for questions, the council moved to table Bill 65-19 for further consideration. The motion to table carried without opposition.
Next steps: the budget ordinance was presented for first reading and tabled; council members were asked to review the proposed adjustments ahead of the next meeting when the ordinance is expected to return for further consideration.
