Vineyard adopts FY2026–27 budget with $25,000 amendment for Holdaway Road bike boulevard

The Vineyard City Council approved the final fiscal year 2026–27 budget on June 23, voting to add a $25,000 amendment to fund a Holdaway Road bike boulevard project.

Evan, the staff presenter, walked the council through numbers largely unchanged from the tentative budget and highlighted reductions across departments and capital project updates. "There haven't been large changes to that that you'll see in here," he said, and noted the budget avoids drawing on the general fund beginning balance.

Councilmember Ezra proposed three alternative budget scenarios that would reduce property taxes by different amounts — one option with deeper operational cuts to achieve about a 26% reduction and a moderate option that would reduce property taxes by roughly 16%. Ezra said he prepared the proposals to offer concrete alternatives rather than simply voting against the budget.

Other council members and staff emphasized a measured approach, citing depleted reserves that the proposed budget restores. One council member said the budget replenishes rainy-day funds and avoids a bond for large facility projects by paying for a planned public works addition in cash.

After discussion the council moved and seconded approval of the final budget with an amendment to add $25,000 for a Holdaway Road bike boulevard study/implementation. The amendment passed on a roll call vote; councilors discussed adding the bike boulevard to honor earlier promises to long-standing residents and to reduce through-traffic on the street.

Staff said the budget preserves capital projects, labels funding sources for capital items, and will be amended as actual revenues become known.