By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The City of Decatur is moving forward with a budget of $14,579,622 for 2026.
City council passed the budget on its first reading on Sept. 16 and next up will be a public hearing and likely final passage in October.
If the budget is given final approval and eventually gains state okay without changes, the local tax rate for next year will be $1.4377 per each $100 of assessed valuation.
The current budget is $13,554,395 with a tax rate of $1.1961.
The 2024 rate was $1.212.
The current budget showed only a slight increase due, in part, to the fact that the city still had American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. ARPA funds were sent out all over the country to aid relief efforts in the wake of the pandemic.
That money, however, had to be allocated this year.
In addition, a large jump in assessed valuation helped to hold down the current tax rate.
The general fund in the 2026 budget amounts to $7,027,736.
The new budget also includes a 3% salary increase for city employees.
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