Council receives proposed $530M budget for fiscal ’26

Springfield City Council is mulling a fiscal 2026 budget for the city that represents a 4.4% increase from the current fiscal year.

An ordinance to adopt the budget was introduced at last night’s council meeting with an explanation by Director of Finance David Holtmann. Council is scheduled to vote on the measure at its next regular meeting, scheduled June 9.

The proposed budget for fiscal 2026 is $529.8 million, up 4.4% from $507 million in fiscal 2025.

The spending plan with an explanatory message was submitted to council by acting City Manager Collin Quigley on April 29, meeting the requirement of city code that it be submitted at least 60 days before the start of the budget year, which begins July 1. The code also requires a balanced budget, stating, “In no event shall the total amount of the proposed expenditures exceed the estimated income of the city.”

The budget shows the largest portion of the city’s revenue, 37%, coming from sales and use taxes at $194 million, with the next largest portion being charges and fees, 28%, at $148 million.

Other revenue sources, rounded to the nearest percentage, are property taxes, 5%; other taxes, 6%; intergovernmental, 7%; licenses and fees, 2%; transfers, 9%; and other resources, 7%.

Roughly 31% of revenue goes to the city’s general fund, with 26% coming from the enterprise fund, covering the airport, clean water services, solid waste and golf, and 23% counted as special revenue, generated by the art museum, emergency communications, law enforcement sales tax, public health, parks, transportation and others, according to a chart from the Finance Department.

Holtmann said the budget outlines continuing normal revenue growth and operating levels, with 7.5 new positions added within the general fund and 11 new positions proposed from other funds. He noted significant reductions in staffing and other expenses for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board are planned. Holtmann said the park district is endeavoring to address its overall budget and financial stability.

The general fund includes the new SpringForward SGF three-quarter-cent general sales tax, approved by voters last year, with a quarter cent going toward public safety, including police and fire pension contributions and wage increases, and a half cent going toward future recommendations by the city’s Citizens Advisory Board to fund projects in line with the city’s Forward SGF comprehensive plan.