Bristol City Council adopts FY2025-26 budget with $95.3 million general-fund appropriation, 4–1

The Bristol City Council on May 27 adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget ordinance, approving administration-recommended changes and setting a $95,298,016 general-fund appropriation. The measure passed 4–1, with Councilmember Michael Pollard voting no.

City Manager Randall Eads presented the ordinance by caption and framed several small administration adjustments that the council approved, including a $9,482 increase to the joint library operating expense to cover insurance and the reallocation of roughly $130,000 from economic development activities to the streets and engineering divisions to fund an assistant public works director.

Assistant City Manager Tamrya Spradlin reviewed quarter‑end financials that informed the discussion. She reported an unaudited general-fund summary showing a $90.6 million budget baseline, revenues just over $78 million and expenditures of $59.2 million (about 65% of the budget). She told the council that $15.7 million of revenues recorded through March 31 were related to Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) funding for landfill remediation, and that without those funds the apparent surplus would fall to roughly $3.1 million.

Council debate focused on balancing citizen tax burden with service needs. Vice‑Mayor Jake Holmes described the process as difficult but emphasized the need to fund first responders and infrastructure so trained professionals are available for the community. Councilmember Anthony Farnum said the city faces rising costs for infrastructure, schools and housing inmates and acknowledged a tax increase included in the package; he said the increase was a difficult but necessary choice to maintain services. Mayor Becky Nave thanked staff for efforts to balance priorities and noted ongoing work to attract businesses and retain personnel.

Eads also noted the city's debt timetable: bond anticipation notes issued in 2023 that fund landfill projects are callable in fall 2025 and, if paid, would lower mid‑year debt service and interest costs. The council approved the ordinance on second reading; the budget becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Vote: Passed 4–1. Voting for adoption: Neal Osborne, Anthony Farnum, Becky Nave, Jake Holmes. Voting against: Michael Pollard.