Live Oak Development News

Live Oak City Council Approves FY 2026-27 Budget, Eliminates Council Benefits Effective End of Terms

The City Council of Live Oak approved the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and appropriation limit. The budget highlights structural deficits in the General Fund (approximately $800,000), Water Fund (approximately $279,000), Sewer Fund (approximately $187,000), and Streets Fund (approximately $120,000). The city plans to address these deficits through various measures including increasing fees, pursuing grants, implementing a 1% sales tax in November, potentially selling water/sewer systems, and addressing public safety funding discrepancies. The council also approved the elimination of city-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits for city council members, effective at the end of each member's current term. This decision was made despite legal opinions suggesting it might be unconstitutional to remove benefits mid-term, with the adopted motion specifying that new council members and re-elected members beginning new terms would not be eligible. Discussions also centered on maintaining public safety service levels, particularly for the fire department, with the possibility of a revenue measure in November to stabilize funding. The budget includes a proposed reduction in the fire department contract from $1.3 million to $750,000, which has raised significant concerns about service levels and public safety.