SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: First Reading of the 2026 Proposed Budget
Department
DEPARTMENT: Finance
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Sara Hancock, Finance Director
end
Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
end
For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
A Public Hearing is required for the adoption of the annual budget. The Council will have the opportunity to listen to Public Comment, ask questions of staff in the Public Hearing, and then provide direction as deemed appropriate.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Provide any direction on the 2026 Proposed Budget before the 2nd Hearing scheduled for Nov. 18.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• The budget provides funding for all Town of Erie programs, services, capital projects and initiatives in 2026.
• The budget reflects revenue in all funds totaling about $144 million, and expenditures in all funds totaling about $393 million.
• The budget maintains all required reserves through 2030, enables transfers of $1.2 million to $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund and $2.0 million to $2.3 million to the Fleet Fund, and funds $7.3 million to $16.3 million in capital projects each year from 2026-2030.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Town Code specifies the Town Manager shall cause a proposed budget to be prepared and submitted to the Town Council annually and be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption. Through this agenda item, staff presents the 2026 Proposed Budget for Public Hearing.
Budget Review and Adoption Schedule
On Oct. 21, 2025 staff provided an overview of the 2026 Proposed Budget including Budget Priorities, General Fund Summary, Revenue Projections, Operating Expenditures, Personnel & Position Requests, Department Budget Presentations, and a high-level summary of Capital Expenditures.
On Oct. 28, Council holds the first Public Hearing to solicit public comments on the proposed budget. After those reviews and public hearing, staff will then incorporate any changes the Council wants to see in the proposed budget. Then, during a second Public Hearing on Nov. 18, staff will present the final proposed budget for adoption by the Council.
The attached budget reflects projections of revenues and expenditures based on the latest actual numbers in each category, the preliminary assessed property valuations recently received from Boulder and Weld counties, and the Council direction given during earlier study sessions. The attached budget overview and schedules provide a narrative overview of the budget, a summary of changes in fund balance/working capital in all funds, and summary and detailed budget schedules.
priorities
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
☒ Traffic & Road Infrastructure
☒ Growth & Development
☒ Water Cost & Availability
☒ Affordable & Diverse Housing
☒ Increased Commercial Development
☒ Responsible Oil & Gas Development
☒ Preservation of Open Space
☒ Recreation & Community Amenities
☒ Multi-Modal Focus
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. 2026 Proposed Budget Memo - First Reading
2. 2026 Budget Presentation - First Reading
3. 2026 Capital Project List
4. 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan
5. 2026 Proposed Budget Book
6. Public Hearing Notice