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Workshop Topic: Joint Meeting with School Board to Discuss Council Budget Guidance
Each year, the City Council holds a joint meeting with the School Board to discuss its expectations for the upcoming budget, with Councilors providing input as to what they would be willing to approve for a property tax increase. The City Manager and School Superintendent then proceed with crafting their respective shares of the budget, taking into account this guidance.
In the past, this meeting had been held in early January. However, this year, the meeting was moved to mid-February at the request of the Finance Director, so that additional context could be provided to the City Council. (For example, information from department budget requests, fixed cost increases vs. variable or more discretionary increases, etc.)
Finance Director Ellen Sanborn provided an overview during this workshop. The City Council provided general guidance that City staff and school officials present responsible budgets for 2026 (FY26).
The budget schedule is as follows:
March 17, 2025 - City Manager releases recommended FY26 budget to City Council.
April 1, 2025 - City Council Meeting - Budget Public Hearing
April 8, 2025 - City Council Budget Workshop # 1 (School and City Departments TBD)
April 22, 2025 - City Council Budget Workshop # 2 (Remaining City Departments TBD)
May 6, 2025 - City Council Public Hearing & Approval of School Budget
May 13, 2025 - City Council Budget Workshop # 3 (Parking Lot Items)
June 17, 2025 - City Council Meeting - Budget Appropriation Resolve
Note: The budget schedule is tentative and may change.
Budget documents will be posted to the 2026 Municipal Budget Information page once available.