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City council hears $1.9 million projected shortfall as budget direction given to staff
Summary
At a special workshop July 8, the council reviewed a preliminary 2026–27 budget that staff said leaves an estimated $1.9 million shortfall; council gave staff direction to place several one-time capital and targeted personnel requests in contingency while the mayor prepares a balanced budget.
The Stafford City Council met in a special budget workshop where finance staff presented a preliminary 2026–27 operating plan that shows projected revenues of about $31 million versus recurring expenses that, when salaries and benefits for current employees are added, total roughly $32.9 million — a gap staff estimated at $1,900,000.
"Without that cost, at this moment, the shortfall is 1,900,000," CFO Alka said while walking the council through the arithmetic of current pay rates and authorized positions. Council members pressed staff on how the mayor will present a balanced budget and whether the council should direct cuts now or wait for the mayor's filing. Alka noted the city's fund balance is roughly $12,500,000 but cautioned that some funds are restricted and that setting aside money can affect grant eligibility.
Councilmembers repeatedly raised two trade-offs: whether to freeze vacant positions and whether to stagger capital replacements. Several members said they want a single, consolidated proposed budget rather than repeated after-the-fact adjustments. The council directed the CFO to compile the dollar amounts for items that members identified as priorities and to place selected items in a contingency line so they can be revisited when the mayor files a balanced budget.
