Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (July 1, 2025-June 30 2026)

Updates on the FY2026 Budget Hearings

City Manager presented the FY2026 draft Budget

May 15th Main Takeaways

1. The total draft Budget is $155 Million, a 3.96% increase. Factored in with the Concord School District tax increase and assuming the County rate would stay the same, this will result in a tax rate of $28.69. A home assessed at $400,000 would see their tax bill increase by $400. How do we reduce the tax rate?

   
   

   The City Manager stated that every 1% is equivalent to $546,680. Cutting the City portion of taxes would mean cutting roughly $2,186,720 from the budget (546,680 x 4). The Mayor pointed out that the largest expense in the budget is in the form of salaries and compensation.

   For example: the Golf Fund is $1,828,353, Golf salaries & compensation = $1,008,597

   
   

   The two most expensive projects in the $31,620,250 Capital Improvement Projects portion of the budget:

   1. $5,900,000 - Hall St. Wastewater Treatment Facility: This item was previously presented to City Council in February 2025.

   2. $5,850,000 - New, larger golf clubhouse: May 15, 2025 was the first time the public has seen these plans, they were not included in the May 9th Budget Delivery to City Council. There was no public or committee input in the creation of these revised plans. There is no financial information available in relation to how the building would pay for itself. The City Manager has said he will have a full discussion on the pro forma during "Golf Night", June 2nd, three days before the budget is approved.

      
      

2. There will be increases, again, this year in Water and Wastewater rates. The monthly increase for the average household will be $1.65 for water and $3.15 for wastewater.

   
   

3. False Advertising - The Capital Improvements Projects includes images of projects as though they are included in budget appropriations when, in fact, they are not. In most cases, the funding is dependent on donations, federal or state dollars. However, the new Police Station will be presented later in fiscal year 2026 for funding approval. It is listed as $38,370,000 and is not included in this budget.

   

   

   

   
   
   

Let's work together to provide a good quality of life that everyone can afford. All meetings on the Budget will be held at 5:30pm in Council Chambers (37 Green St) and include time for public comment. FY2026 draft budget

Want more information? Additional information may be requested at any time through a City Councilor and the responses will be distributed to the entire City Council.

Written materials relative to the budget will be distributed at least 48 hours before the meeting where they are to be discussed.

The order of the hearings will be:

(1) Presentation by City Manager

(2) Questions from Committee members

(3) Questions and comments from the public

(4) Discussion and tentative vote on each section

* All votes are tentative until adoption of final budget.

• Monday, May 19th -

  • General Government,

  • Public Safety: Police, Fire

  • General Services

  • Public Hearings

• Thursday, May 22nd -

  • Community Development,

  • Leisure Services: Library, Parks & Recreation

  • Human Services,

  • Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts,

    Capital Projects

  • Public Hearings

• Monday, June 2nd -

  • Special Revenue Funds: Parking Fund, Airport Fund, Conservation Property Fund, Revolving Loan Fund, Golf Fund, Arena Fund, Solid Waste Fund

  • Enterprise Funds: Water Fund, Wastewater Fund,

  • Public Hearings

• Thursday, June 5th -

  • Committee Work Session,

  • Public Hearings,

  • Public Hearing Action (Budget Adoption)

"It is, Sir, the people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people". -Daniel Webster