Englewood Development News

City Council Reviews and Discusses 2026 Municipal Budget with 3.95% Tax Increase

The City Council held a public hearing and discussed the 2026 municipal budget, totaling $84,977,409, with a proposed tax increase of 3.95%. Key drivers for the increase include health and liability insurance premiums, reassessment costs, and state mandates. The budget allocates funds for essential services like fire, police, sanitation, recreation, and public health. Revenue highlights include the use of surplus funds ($4.6 million), state aid ($2.7 million), and pilot programs. The capital budget for 2026 is also robust, with 55 funded projects including road improvements, sewer work, park enhancements, and vehicle/equipment purchases. Several ordinances and resolutions were introduced to facilitate the budget adoption process, including an ordinance for the CAP bank, a resolution to read the budget by title only, a resolution for self-examination of the budget, and a resolution authorizing the adoption of the budget. Public comments raised concerns about the tax increase, the use of surplus, and the allocation of funds towards recreation versus infrastructure.