County Administrator David Johnston presented the Unified Government’s proposed 2026 city budget on Thursday evening. He also presented the county budget during the Full Commission meeting. According to the UG, the proposal was developed in coordination with the Budget and Finance Departments. It also involved all UG divisions. The goal is to align with four commission priorities while maintaining a balanced budget.
Johnston’s presentation highlighted several key items in the 2026 proposal:
- A 1% residential PILOT decrease, valued at $1.2 million.
- Efforts to instill fiscal discipline and curb long-term personnel cost trends.
- A commitment to avoiding layoffs, though some positions remain frozen.
- A maximum mill levy adjustment approved by resolution in July, allowing for an additional three mills.
- A 2 mill increase included in both city and county budget proposals.
- Prioritization of projects identified through the community survey.
- Adherence to the debt management strategy adopted last year.
- Funding is allocated for Westside development. There is support for community-wide infrastructure. More than $7 million in projects are supported by one-time TIF revenue from the Speedway Plaza development.
The proposed budget will now be considered for adoption by the Full Commission in the coming weeks. To view the budget for yourself, download the budget PDF. Want to watch the meeting yourself? Check it out here:
