On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Mayor Lester Miller presented the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. This year’s budget represents an increase in spending across budgets, including more funds allocated for public safety, IT, beautification, and recreation. Even with the increase, the millage rate is proposed to remain the same and could be lower once the county receives the tax digest.

“We’ve been able to lower our millage rate by more than 50% since 2021 and increase spending thanks to better budgeting, more focused spending, and the voter-approved OLOST,” says Mayor Miller. “I’m proud of our departments for focusing their work on our community’s highest priorities and our budget and finance teams for getting them the funding they need.”

Since 2021, Mayor Miller has proposed, and the Commission has approved, continued funding increases in community and internally identified priority areas:

Salaries & Benefits FY21 – $99,870,902 FY26 – $123,685,401 Increase – $23,814,499

Public Safety FY21 – $94,075,033.53 FY26 – $122,098,205 Increase – $28,023,171.47

Information Technology FY21 – $5,255,311 FY26 – $8,682,354 Increase – $3,427,043

Recreation FY21 – $4,659,721.08 FY26 – $7,738,280 Increase – $3,078,558.92

Beautification FY21 – $2,402,174.65 FY26 – $4,676,173 Increase – $2,273,998.35

There will be a public hearing on the Proposed FY26 Budget on June 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers at City Hall (700 Poplar Street) and a vote on the budget on June 17 at 6:00 p.m.