.png)
Elgin residents will have two chances in September to weigh in on the city’s proposed 2025-26 budget, tax rate and capital improvement plan, as council members track progress on long-term priorities.
City Council voted earlier this month to hold required public hearings Sept. 2 and Sept. 16 before adopting its fiscal proposals. Interim City Manager Isaac Turner told council members at their Aug. 19 meeting that no additional budget sessions are needed before the hearings because most questions have already been addressed.
“We are in a position now where there is just not a lot of decisions to make,” Turner said.
The city’s proposed budget and capital improvement plan are posted online, with the new tax rate scheduled for release at least five business days before the first hearing. No formal action will be taken during the hearings, but residents may comment in person without signing up in advance.
BUDGET SNAPSHOT
In the draft, Elgin officials project $16.74 million in revenue and $15.78 million in expenses for the 2025-26 fiscal year, leaving a base surplus of $955,468. Once budget adjustments are factored in, the amount expected to go into reserves drops to about $122,000, according to the last budget reading.
Turner noted that EMS costs are set to rise sharply if voters don’t elect to join Emergency Services District No. 3 this November, jumping from $111,600 to $1.29 million next year. To cushion the increase, staff allocated $1.1 million from reserves into a contingency fund.
Other budget items include a cost-of-living adjustment scheduled to begin in January 2026 and an expected 8% rise in health insurance premiums.
Turner urged council members to remain cautious in using unassigned reserves, saying decisions on how to divide that money are best left for midyear, when a new city manager and finance director will — hopefully — be in place.
LOGGING PRIORITIES
Alongside budget deliberations Sept. 2, the council will review the city’s strategic planning and priorities list, which staff completed in March. The 20-page document outlines goals in economic development, infrastructure, public safety, healthcare access and preserving Elgin’s identity.
The plan explores future business park opportunities, seeking to expand and attract new businesses by acquiring more than 500 acres within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. It calls for cultivating relationships with local employers through a Business Retention Committee, recruiting industries that align with Elgin’s long-term vision and continuing investment in downtown development.
“By leveraging data-driven marketing, strategic partnerships and tailored incentive packages, the Economic Development Corporation aims to position Elgin as a competitive and desirable location for business investment and expansion,” the document reads.
On the public works side, the city aims to restore annual street resurfacing at $500,000 and eventually raise funding to $700,000, expand broadband access using state grant dollars and continue seeking funds for sidewalks, water and sewer upgrades. Public safety goals include recruiting additional police officers and broadening communication with residents during emergencies.
PUBLIC VOICE
Speakers are limited to three minutes during the September hearings, while emailed remarks will be shared with council members but not read aloud. Residents with questions about the budget process may contact City Secretary Peyton Sandifer at [email protected] or 512-281-5724.
The Sept. 2 meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Elgin Public Library Council Chambers Annex, 404 N. Main St.
