Oshkosh Common Council Workshop: 2027 Operating Budget - 10/19/26

The City of Oshkosh Common Council held a 2027 operating budget workshop on October 19, 2026. Finance outlined work on a purchasing policy handbook and employee travel-reimbursement rules, along with plans to improve processes in the Tyler Munis ERP system and implement recommendations from an organizational assessment. The proposed budget closes an estimated $3.9 million gap and includes a $1.5 million tax-levy increase; based on current estimates, the city tax bill for an average $225,000 home would rise about $32. Final manufacturing assessment figures and clarification of the state municipal services payment remain outstanding. No formal budget or procurement votes were recorded; the operating budget and capital improvement program are scheduled for council consideration on November 17, following a public hearing the next week.

Capital planning discussion included a proposed increase in the city’s airport fire-station design allocation from $50,000 to $150,000, toward an approximately $300,000 design effort to be shared with the county. A joint police-fire training center remains in the capital improvement program only if federal funding becomes available; staff also discussed future borrowing for projects and managing debt timing. The council discussed cancelling a previously scheduled special meeting and moving the DORA discussion to the following Tuesday. The airport design allocation was presented as a proposed budget adjustment, not an approved award or expenditure.