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HRA BUDGET AND LEVY The 2026 HRA Budget and Levy is proposed at the same amount as 2025, 0% Levy increase. DEBT AND INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY The 2026 Debt Related Levies and Street improvement Levies are proposed to increase by $0 over the 2025 combined debt levies. The 2026 debt levy cerƟﬁed will be $1,840,953. This is an increase of $382,258 compared to the 2025 debt levy due to the 2024 debt issue being included and having reduced available funds on hand in 2025, leaving less availability to reduce the debt levy by funds on hand. This increase in the debt levy will be offset by a decrease in its Infrastructure Levy by the same sum. This results in a combined ﬂat levy impact for the street improvement program for a seventh consecuƟve year. CAPITAL FUNDS The 2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) levy is proposed to decrease by $120,000. This includes the scheduled increase of $30,000, offset by the applicaƟon of $150,000 levy relief funds as previously described. The 2026 Building Improvement levy is proposed to increase by $15,000 and the Park Improvement levy is proposed to increase $10,000. These moderate levy increases are recommended to plan for expenses in capital improvement plans. The council reviewed and approved the Capital Improvement Plan and levy relief funding opƟons on October 28 ,2025. FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFFING REQUEST A signiﬁcant factor in the 2026 budget is the Fire Department request to add staff to meet the medical needs of the community and strive for OSHA compliance and a safer environment for ﬁre department staff. At the August 12 work session Chief Diaz presented a detailed overview of the current ﬁre department staffing structure and challenges, along with call volume data and NFPA and OSHA standards that ﬁre staff are unable to meet with current resources. At this work session, Finance staff also provided an updated overall levy scenario with correlaƟng levy impacts for phasing in requested Fireﬁghter/Paramedic posiƟons. STAFFING REQUEST FUNDING OPTIONS At the City Council’s work Session on August 12th, 2025, the Council expressed support for the needs of the staffing request and asked staff to present funding opƟons to best accommodate the request and minimize levy impact. In subsequent staff discussions, it was determined that hiring one or two posiƟons does not adequately address the service level need. As a result, the scenarios are presented with the assumpƟon of hiring three addiƟonal Fireﬁghter/Paramedics, which is one for each shiŌ. Below are opƟons that the Council considered regarding the staffing request. These fell into 3 categories: 1. Choose not to fund addiƟonal posiƟons at this Ɵme 2. Fund three posiƟons and add the addiƟonal funding to the base levy increase 3. UƟlize one-Ɵme funds from closed TIF Districts to offset the levy impact for 3-6 years. This would result in a jump in the tax levy when the funds are exhausted. 61