The Cleveland City Council has approved a total FY 2025-2026 budget of $8,164,601, which includes general fund and enterprise funds. The approval came Monday night following a final budget hearing.
The new budget general fund revenue, from property taxes, sales tax, franchise tax, premium, and financial tax receipts, is projected to be $5,029,426. That is an increase of 4.83 percent over last year’s budget.
“This prioritizes our most important resource in city government. It acknowledges the retention issues we have,” said City Administrator Kevin Harris.
Harris said the budget provides a salary adjustment for full-time employees and ensures all of Cleveland’s current obligations are met.
“It focuses on resilience, and it does add one additional position to the fire department,” Harris said.
Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner said, after the meeting, the council has provided input in developing the budget from the beginning, working with the staff, and recognized the need for a pay increase for all full-time employees.
“We recognize all of their hard work and all that they do for us, and certainly the cost of living has gone up over the last year, and we want to try to keep on par with that,” said Turner.
