PETOSKEY — The Petoskey City Council approved the city’s 2026 fiscal year budget during their meeting on Monday, Dec. 1.
The council first heard a presentation on the proposed budget in November and scheduled a public hearing and possible adoption for Monday’s meeting.
The proposed 2026 operating and capital budget was estimated at $39,968,700. According to agenda materials, the Jan. 1, 2026 fund balance in the general fund would be at $7,149,376. The general fund will include a projected $12,019,600 in revenues and $12,271,900 in expenditures.
Council discussed several suggested changes, but ultimately decided on only one amendment to the proposed budget. The change will include both a dredging project and electrical upgrade project at the city marina, each for $300,000. Prior, only the dredging project had been included in the budget. The completion of both projects is dependent on grant funding.
“We have a pretty significant need with this dry weather we’ve experienced over the last few years of doing a dredging project in the marina,” said city manager Shane Horn during the Nov. 17 council meeting. “A lot of silt, as you can imagine, comes down the Bear River and when it comes to the mouth it kinds of widens out, obviously, and it drops the silt in place. And so we have had a buildup of silt over the course of several years to a point where we think we need to do some dredging work in the marina.”
Council also discussed a mid-year reevaluation to see if a few new city positions should be added to the budget with an amendment, including an additional public safety officer position.
The council approved the budget in a 4-1 vote, with council member Derek Shiels voting no.
The full budget is available to view at petoskey.us/news_detail_T29_R276.php.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey City Council approves 2026 budget
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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