Special Minot City Council Meeting: City Manager Budget 7/16/26 at 5:30 p.m.

The City of Minot held a special city council meeting on July 16, 2026, focused primarily on the city manager's presentation of the preliminary 2027 budget. The discussion emphasized the need to balance constrained resources with competing priorities, particularly maintaining and improving public safety, street maintenance, and economic development. The proposed budget includes a significant property tax increase of approximately 33% year-over-year, with an average increase of $234.31 per median household. The city plans to use $2 million of general fund reserves in 2027, down from higher usage in previous years, to help cover operational costs. Key procurement-related topics included reductions in capital improvement project funding, such as a $0 allocation for the police department renovation in this budget cycle and a reduction in street maintenance funding from $10 million to $9.1 million. Personnel costs and staffing levels were also discussed, with 12 authorized but unfunded positions noted, including in police and other departments. The council was informed about potential future budget amendments and the importance of maintaining reserve levels to support bond ratings and capital projects like the Third Street Bridge replacement. The meeting concluded with plans for further budget discussions and a preliminary budget approval targeted for early August, ahead of a public hearing in September.