MONROE — A public hearing is set for Nov. 3 in advance of final approval of a 2026 city budget that has the tax levy decreasing by nearly $40,000.

That is one technical highlight of a working budget document and summary presented to the Common Council during its October 20 regular meeting. The city also is seeing a revenue increase of about 1.19 percent, said City Administrator Brittney Rindy, who presented a budget summary.

“There is overall a revenue increase of the 1.91 percent, the expenditure increase of 3.1 percent, not including the debt service, this is focusing on just the general funds section of the budget,” she told the council. “We are able to increase our operating levy by $99,738 and that’s based on the net new construction, which is almost over five-fold over last year where we were only able to increase it by $18,000.”

Rindy said she is working the budget and non-levy debt service schedule to limit the year-on-year levy increase.

“I think that’s a very smart decision to keep it level, instead of decrease this year, and next year, a big increase,” said Alderman Tom Miller.

Among the expenditure increases noted in the budget:

●  Salaries — includes 2.5% increase for step movement upon anniversary date; annual COLA 2.7% increase to wages

●  Health Insurance — 2.4% increase in premiums 

●  Police salaries — 2026 is the final year of the current contract, with negotiations for 2027 next year; 3% increase in January 2026 and 1% in December 2026

●  Fire — Deputy Chief wages increase as approved by Council; fire inspector wages projected with 2-3 part time inspectors at rates recommended by S&P

Rindy said in her summary that a levy projection may be possible sometime next month. The public hearing will be held prior to the council voting on budget adoption.

“Hopefully we will be able to provide a projection at the Council meeting in November,” she told the council. “This is delayed because the manufacturing assessments do not become final until October.”