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Grand Forks previews 2027 budget: salary plan, 4.5 FTE reduction and focus on public safety
Summary
The mayor and finance staff presented a preliminary 2027 budget that includes a salary-plan market adjustment using 75% of the ECI (about 2.55%), an estimated general-fund cost of roughly $719,000, a 4.5 FTE net reduction and continued emphasis on public safety and capital reserves.
Mayor Bushensky and city finance staff presented a preliminary look at the 2027 general-fund budget, stressing public safety, personnel considerations and capital reserves.
Tangie, who led the salary-plan presentation, said the city's plan recommends implementing 75% of the Employer Cost Index (ECI) for market movement; Tangie noted the December 2025 ECI was 3.4% and estimated a 2.55% market adjustment that equates to roughly $719,000 in the general fund. "The mayor's budget including the 2027 salary plan does include 75% of the ECI, which equates to 2.55% market adjustment," Tangie said.
Staff also said restructuring across several departments will reduce the general-fund headcount by 4.5 full-time-equivalent positions, producing savings of just over $450,000, while the mayor's priorities keep public safety as a leading share of spending. Finance staff estimated the general fund at roughly $55.67 million going into 2027 and outlined a plan to phase in capital reserves for vehicle and equipment replacement.
Councilors raised questions about the proposed greenway/flood-protection maintenance fee and the mill levy calculation. Staff clarified that the greenway maintenance charge is an operations fee separate from the capital maintenance fund and said the small monthly example cited (an 8-cent increase for greenway maintenance) is the operational impact at typical residential billing assumptions.
Staff projected a preliminary timeline: full mayor's budget July 20, 2026; preliminary approval August 3; final approval September 8. Council directed staff to bring more detailed materials on flood-protection capital projects and utility-rate comparisons at the July presentation.
