Million Dollars Seamless Pattern with USD Dollar Sign. Raining money stack grunge background. Horizontal version.
By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The City of Decatur’s proposed budget for 2026 is going to come in around $14.4 million, a figure which, Mayor Dan Rickord said, is the result of a considerable amount of work by department heads and Clerk-Treasurer Eran Hackman.
At its latest meeting, city council, the mayor and Hackman discussed a preliminary figure of $14,337,485, up $796,090 – 5.88% – from the current budget of $13,541,295.
Further changes could be made in the budget before it goes to state officials.
“We know things are going to get tighter,” Rickord said, “so we asked our department heads to make some cuts and they have helped us get to where we wanted to go. And we want to thank them.”
“We sat down with the department heads and went over everything,” he continued.
“There were not a lot of increases this year as everyone wanted to keep things down.”
The mayor also had praise for Hackman, who is in only her fourth month on the job, having replaced Kevin Hackman in early May. She had been chief deputy recorder for Adams County.
“Eran has done a tremendous job,” the mayor said. “She has acted like a seasoned veteran.”
A public hearing will be scheduled before a 2026 budget is given final approval.
About the Author
