Council held a special budget work session on August 11, 2026 at 6:00 pm and staff presented the proposed FY 2026-27 Operating Budget. The budget includes revenues that the $0.696260/$100 tax rate would generate. The General Fund revenue is proposed at $22,128,685 and expenditures at $22,127,737, leaving a balance of $948. The Debt Service fund proposed revenue of $2,719,224 and expenditures of $2,831,580, resulting in a shortage of $112,356 to be paid from prior year excess collections. The Water & Sewer Fund proposed revenue is $9,872,822 and expenditures of $9,783,288, leaving a balance of 89,534.

Bastiat Liberty & Property Rights Analysis

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 8.5/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).