Erie’s proposed 2027 budget projects $217.2 million in revenue, down 4.2%

Erie staff’s proposed 2027 budget projects $217.2 million in total revenue, 4.2% below the adopted 2026 budget. The comparison — $217,160,001 proposed against $226,692,232 adopted — includes debt proceeds and transfers between funds, the proposed budget’s revenue tables show. Excluding debt proceeds and transfers, proposed revenue is $118,953,574, about 4.1% below $124,069,241. That narrower measure still includes taxes, fees and capital contributions, so it is not an operating-revenue measure.

Town Council held a first hearing on the proposal Oct. 27 without adopting it. Council is scheduled to consider the budget for adoption Nov. 10, according to the meeting packet.

During budget development, staff reduced General Fund operating requests by about $3.5 million, or 8%, and Capital Improvement Fund requests by 21%, the earlier proposed budget book says. Those reductions apply to requests, not uniformly to every department’s final operating budget. The proposal funds two police officers, budgeted at a combined $279,000 in salaries and benefits, and a wastewater manager, budgeted at $193,000. It also eliminates two vacant Planning and Community Development positions and shifts work from a vacant information technology position to a consulting contract. Staff described the staffing changes as a net increase of 0.5 full-time equivalent and said the hires would address rising service demands and provide dedicated wastewater oversight, in its budget presentation.

The proposal includes $150,000 for a temporary multi-use path and crossing improvements on 119th Street, the Finance Director told the council. Staff described the path as connecting Compass with Rex Ranch and nearby areas to give children a route to bike. The Public Works director estimated about $80,000 would go toward concrete barriers, with the remaining work involving an asphalt path, millings and crossing improvements.

Staff expects to bring a proposed transportation fee to Council for consideration in early 2027 to support street maintenance. Council would decide whether to implement it for future years; the fee has not been adopted, the Council packet says.

The budget book lists $4,938,462 in 2027 for Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) property acquisition, funded by the Water Fund. That is the budget line for the $4.9 million earmark, not a second allocation; the project’s 2026–31 forecast totals $43.37 million. The book separately lists $662,500 for 2027 under NISP Conveyance Easement Acquisitions. Staff expects Council to consider a possible interim agreement in early 2027. If the town’s direction on NISP changes, Council could de-appropriate the funds or leave them unspent, the budget memo says.

The latest five-year forecast projects the Capital Improvement Fund will have a negative $4.95 million balance in 2031. Staff says future capital projects can be adjusted to address funding needs, the capital plan says.