Erie staff proposes $190 million 2027 budget, trims $3.5 million in operating requests

Erie staff recommends a roughly $190 million budget for 2027, including about $3.5 million in reduced General Fund operating requests. The proposal funds two police officers and a wastewater manager, while the town’s five-year forecast projects negative balances in its Capital Improvement Fund in 2030 and 2031. The proposal is for Council review, not an adopted budget, [the proposed-budget memo says](https://erieco.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetAttachmentFile(fileId=3712).

The proposed townwide budget totals about $189.95 million, including nearly $99.7 million in capital requests. Staff built the plan around constrained revenue expectations, including average General Fund revenue growth of 1.75%, and reduced operating requests after budget reviews. It also reduced or reprioritized capital requests.

The two police officers are budgeted at a combined $279,000 in salaries and benefits, and the wastewater manager at $193,000. Staff says the officers would help address rising calls for service and maintain response times; the manager would provide dedicated oversight as wastewater facilities and demands expand. The proposal also eliminates two vacant Planning and Community Development positions, which staff links to fewer permit submissions and slower growth, and shifts the work of a vacant information technology position to a consulting contract. Staff’s budget presentation describes the staffing changes as a net increase of 0.5 full-time equivalent.

The five-year forecast projects the Capital Improvement Fund balance falling from $4.16 million in 2029 to a deficit of $4.34 million in 2030 and $11.34 million in 2031. The forecast assumes $9 million in annual expenses, while revenue and transfers decline from $3 million in 2027 to $500,000 in 2030 before rising to $2 million in 2031. Staff describes the forecast as cautious and says the town can adjust annual selections of mostly one-time capital projects to reduce future spending and maintain reserves. These are projections; the fund is not currently shown as negative.

A separate proposed project is a $30.75 million Erie Community Center addition, listed in the Public Facilities Impact Fund rather than the Capital Improvement Fund. The capital plan lists a 2027 allocation, which the memo says would cover design. Construction depends on a funding mechanism and Council direction; the memo ties the proposed funding to a measure listed for voter consideration on the November 2026 ballot.

The schedule calls for the recommended budget to be formally released Oct. 15, followed by a public hearing and first reading Oct. 27. A second hearing, second reading and planned adoption are scheduled for Nov. 10, according to the Council item report.