Grand Island City Council Special Meeting - September 8, 2026: Public Hearings on FY2026-2027 Budget and Tax Requests

The Grand Island City Council held a special meeting on September 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM to conduct three public hearings regarding the FY2026-2027 annual single city budget, the general property and Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) tax request, and the Parking District #2 (Ramp) tax request. City Administrator Patrick Brown presented detailed financial information and recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gerald Pools criticized the city's spending on elective projects such as AstroTurf, Island Oasis, and others, arguing that these projects could have been postponed. He expressed concern that without fiscal discipline, property tax increases would be inevitable, especially with potential cuts in state aid. He urged the council to stop "throwing money away."

Discussion Items

6a. Public Hearing on FY2026-2027 Annual Single City Budget and Annual Appropriations Bill

• City Administrator Brown presented the proposed budget: personnel services $41.6 million, operating expenses $10.3 million, transfers out, total operating expenses $54.1 million, leaving a surplus of approximately $251,000.
• He highlighted a widening gap between revenue growth (1.5-2.5%) and expenditure growth (personnel cost growth 4-5%, operating cost inflation 2%+). The five-year projection shows cash reserves of $15.2 million by 2031, giving $5.3 million in excess reserves, assuming no property tax increase and no additional FTEs.
• Compensation increases: bargaining unit employees 5%, non-union employees 4%. Personnel costs represent the largest component of general fund operating expenditures.
• Recommendations: maintain the property tax ask at the prior year level (no increase), pause addition of new personnel except for critical public safety/regulatory needs, evaluate vacancies before refilling, and develop a strategic hiring process.
• The city faces three choices if revenue growth remains slower than expenditure growth: reduce services, increase other revenues (fees, sales tax), or use reserves (short-term only).
• The city's property tax ask has been flat while valuations have grown; the mill levy has decreased since 2018-19. The proposed FY2027 budget maintains the same property tax ask of $12,207,540 for the city and CRA.

6b. Public Hearing on FY2026-2027 General Property and Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Tax Request

• Mr. Brown explained that the 2026 valuation increased by $304,336,184 (6%) over 2025. If the current mill levy of 0.241485 were applied, property tax would increase by $605,483. The city and CRA are requesting no increase, keeping the ask at $12,207,540 (city) and $798,890 (CRA). The CRA mill levy would decrease from 0.015805 to 0.014908.

6c. Public Hearing on FY2026-2027 Parking District #2 (Ramp) Tax Request

• The downtown improvement district valuation increased by $5.5 million (5.9%). No property tax increase is requested, so the mill levy decreases slightly from 0.009711 to 0.009710. The tax ask remains $9,090.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the public hearings. The meetings were informational and provided opportunities for public input.
• City Administrator Brown recommended that the City Council maintain the property tax ask for FY2027 at the FY2026 level, manage personnel costs, and prioritize essential services to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• One member of the public (Gerald Pools) spoke in opposition to the city's recent spending patterns and urged fiscal discipline.
• The public hearings were closed; the meeting adjourned at the conclusion of the third hearing.