Common Council 10/6/26

The City of Racine Common Council meeting on October 6, 2026, included Finance Director Kathleen Fisher’s presentation of the proposed 2027 city budget. The budget totals just over $287 million and includes approximately $18.6 million in general borrowing for the regular capital plan and an anticipated $35 million borrowing for Fire Station No. 1. About $4 million in short-term borrowing is proposed, much of it for police technology, including Axon body cameras. The presentation also covered the 10-year capital improvement plan, a proposed utility-billing system, wastewater sub-pump replacement efforts, and minimal fee changes. The budget anticipates using $5.135 million in general fund balance to balance expenditures. No contract awards or vendor selections were made during the meeting.

By motion, the Council referred the proposed 2027 budget and associated positions, ordinances, and fee schedules to the Committee of the Whole for further review; the budget was not adopted. The Council also voted to refer a group of recurring Wisconsin Department of Health grants to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Other agenda items were referred to committees or placed on the consent agenda. The meeting opened with a pedestrian-safety proclamation that cited investment in crosswalks, traffic calming, and accessible design, but no related spending approval was taken.