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Cornelius City Council adopts FY 2026-27 budget, approves utility rates, police IGA and other measures
Summary
At its June 1 meeting the Cornelius City Council adopted the FY 2026-2027 budget and approved related resolutions including utility rate adjustments, planning fee increases, a 3.1% COLA for non-represented staff, a police services IGA with Washington County, a land donation agreement and a road-improvement bid award.
The Cornelius City Council on June 1 adopted the city’s FY 2026-2027 budget and approved a package of companion measures, including revised utility rates, planning fee increases tied to CPI-U, a cost-of-living adjustment for non-represented staff, and an amended Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for police services with Washington County.
Assistant City Manager Ellie Jones presented the budget and related proposals; no public testimony was offered during the hearings. Council President Angeles Godinez Valencia moved to adopt Resolution No. 2026-31 (FY 2026-2027 Budget); the motion, seconded by Councilor Eden Lopez, passed unanimously, 4-0.
Why it matters: adopting the budget finalizes the city’s spending plan for the coming fiscal year and authorizes appropriations and tax levies. Other approvals at the meeting set rates and contracts that affect city operations and resident costs.
Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 2026-31 (Adopt FY 2026-2027 Budget): Passed 4-0. Motion by Council President Angeles Godinez Valencia; seconded by Councilor Eden Lopez. - Resolution No. 2026-32 (State Revenue Sharing): Passed 4-0. Motion by Councilor Eden Lopez; seconded by Councilor Gregory Vaughn. - Resolution No. 2026-33 (Municipal Services certification): Passed 4-0. Motion by Councilor Gregory Vaughn; seconded by Councilor Eden Lopez. - Resolution No. 2026-34 (Utility Rates): Passed 4-0. Motion by Council President Godinez Valencia; seconded by Councilor Lopez. Staff noted regional sewer costs and a desire for bill transparency as factors in the adjustment. - Resolution No. 2026-35 (Planning Fees): Passed 4-0. Motion by Councilor Gregory Vaughn; seconded by Councilor Lopez. Fees adjusted by 2.7% and rounded down to the nearest dollar. - Resolution No. 2026-36 (COLA for non-represented and management employees): Passed 4-0. Motion by Council President Godinez Valencia; seconded by Councilor Vaughn. The COLA is 3.1%; represented employees will receive adjustments per labor agreements. - Resolution No. 2026-37 (City Manager contract amendment): Passed 4-0. Motion by Council President Godinez Valencia; seconded by Councilor Lopez. - Resolution No. 2026-38 (Bid award — 13th & 14th Avenue improvements): Passed 4-0. Motion by Councilor Eden Lopez; seconded by Councilor Vaughn. Bid awarded to Pacific North Construction, LLC. - Resolution No. 2026-39 (Amend IGA with Washington County for Police Services): Passed 4-0. Motion by Councilor Edgar Baker; seconded by Councilor Vaughn. City Manager Peter Brandom said the amendment reflects an annualized 3.5% increase in service costs and an estimated contract value of approximately $3.4 million for FY 2026-27. - Resolution No. 2026-40 (Land donation agreement): Passed 4-0. Motion by Council President Godinez Valencia; seconded by Councilor Lopez. Staff recommended authorizing the City Manager to execute the land-donation agreement with Heather Park Development Company for three floodplain parcels, contingent on final legal review of revised language.
Council and staff reports at the end of the meeting included a report from City Manager Peter Brandom that the city received an approximate $2.5 million grant for seismic improvements to the Public Safety Building and updates on economic development activity; the mayor also requested a future staff update related to public comments about the Water Park Reservoir.
Next steps: Most approvals take effect immediately as recorded in council motions; staff indicated the WCCLS IGA updates for the library will be brought forward for formal approval at the June 15 meeting.
