Council keeps May 18 public hearing on revised budget and schedules follow‑up

Council members spent significant time on May 4 reviewing the proposed FY2026 budget's formatting and content. Several members and residents said the published materials were hard to follow, lacked department labels and a clear table of contents, and removed previously available program detail.

Interim Finance Director Miss Cartwright said staff is preparing a new budget book that will consolidate department data and be easier to read; she said that version would be available the following Monday. Several councilmembers urged that the new document be given ample time for public review.

Council ultimately approved a substitute motion to keep the already‑advertised public hearing on May 18 and to schedule an additional public hearing after the revised budget is issued, allowing at least 14 days for public review before a subsequent hearing; budget adoption was targeted for early June. The city attorney reminded council of state law and local ordinance requirements for public notice and the scheduling of hearings.

Councilmembers asked staff to ensure public notice is distributed and to provide printed copies and online access for residents. Several councilmembers also requested line‑by‑line comparisons, explanations for large variances and the rationale behind proposed cuts to programs such as home repair and emergency assistance.