Laserfiche WebLink
2 | Page <br />Introduction & Overview <br /> <br />As we present the 2026 budget, our city reflects on a year of collaborative planning and <br />strategic decision-making. This budget embodies our commitment to meeting the needs of <br />our growing community while ensuring fiscal sustainability and responsibility. Through the <br />efforts of this year's collaborative process, we’ve developed a budget that aligns with our <br />long-term goals and sets the stage for a resilient future. <br />In January, the City Council and staff developed the 2025 Strategic Plan which sets out the <br />Long-Term Vision for the city, as well as Core Strategies and Strategic Objectives. It is within <br />this framework that City Staff align their work and budgets. <br />Core Strategies include: <br />1. Building a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community through celebration, <br />engagement, and shared spaces. <br />2. Manage Growth with Purpose and Intent. <br />3. Balancing finances consistent with current needs and future growth. <br />4. Maintain responsive, transparent, and adaptive governance. <br />5. Deliver efficient, reliable, and innovative public services. <br />6. Build and sustain resilient infrastructure to support a thriving and sustainable <br />community. <br />Find the full document online at https://www.lakeelmo.gov/173/Lake-Elmo-Strategic-Plan. <br />What’s Changing? <br />Due to the complexity of the city’s budget, there are a myriad of changes that add up to <br />proposed increases. The most significant impacts to the <br />2026 Budget & Levy are changes in staffing, project <br />expenses, and planning for long-term capital needs. <br />The City of Lake Elmo is growing rapidly, and to properly <br />address current and future challenges and set the <br />community on a trajectory for success well into the future, <br />we’re moving toward a proactive approach to capital <br />planning for infrastructure and equipment replacement; <br />implementing capital levies and decreasing the amount of <br />debt issued. We’re also assessing what staffing needs will <br />be in years to come, while also catching up on staffing <br />needs due to recent growth.