During regular session on December 10, 2025, City Council approved the City’s 2026 budget. The approved balanced budget of $139,322,735 saw a 2.23% increase over the 2025 budget and once again does not include revenue from property taxes within its funding.
“Our 2026 budget was carefully aligned with City Council’s strategic initiatives focused on addressing needs in our Auditorium, Communication, Funding, Housing, Infrastructure, and Parks,” said City Manager Chris White. “These six initiatives clearly define our organization’s direction for the next five years.”
The 2026 budget includes $52,685,621 in capital funding for major ongoing projects such as the Old Albany Road Sidewalk Project, Remington Streetscape Project, and Phase II of Paradise Park renovations while addressing a variety of new projects that will positively impact the community. Other projects reflected in the 2026 budget include the following:
- Paving and Sidewalk Projects
- Lift Station 3 Rehabilitation Project
- Airport Southwest Quadrant Expansion
- Technology Improvements for Automated Metering Infrastructure for Electric, Natural Gas, and Wastewater
- Municipal Building Renovation Project
- Landfill Cell 6 Construction
- Cassidy Pond Park Improvements
- Balfour Park Improvements
“Our 2026 Capital Budget is the largest in recorded history and will allow us to make an impact on the initiatives set forth by Council,” said White. “While we recognize the need for continued public investment in our community, we are challenged with meeting the important needs of our community while executing strategic budget plans, such as projects funded over multiple budget years, to overcome our funding limitations.”
In order to create a balanced budget, the City continued to observe a zero-based budget approach with a directive for all departments to keep their individual budgets at or below previous years’ levels. “Through strategic financial prioritization City Leadership reduced the 2026 Operating budget requests by 2.4 million,” said Chief Financial Officer Ashley Cason. “We eliminated vacant positions, reduced major equipment & vehicle requests by more than 30%, and either delayed or eliminated capital projects which allowed us to present City Council with a budget that funds the necessary capital projects with a less than 3% increase from our 2025 budget.”
“We are appreciative of the Council’s support of this aggressive Capital Budget,” said White. “Through the efficient and dedicated operation of our City staff, I am confident that we can accomplish many impactful projects and initiatives for our community.”