City 2026 budget talks get underway

UPDATE (October 8, 2025):

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne budget talks got underway at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Mayor Tucker and City Controller Pat Roller say that Fort Wayne is still on solid financial footing.

Still, they expect challenges in the wake of Indiana passing Senate Bill 1, which changes the structure of the local income tax. But major portions of the new law will have financial ramifications now and in the future.

SEE BUDGET PROPOSAL HERE

ORIGINAL STORY:

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Mayor Sahron Tucker says that Fort Wayne remains fiscally strong, but warned that there could be challenges ahead as the City puts out the budget for next year.

Released last Friday, Mayor Tucker and City Controller Pat Roller call for neighborhood and parks projects to continue in the budget, along with investments in public safety.

The City released the following:

Fort Wayne remains in strong fiscal health as Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Controller Pat Roller today announced the proposed 2026 budget for the City of Fort Wayne. However, challenges lie ahead due to Senate Bill 1, which is putting financial pressure on local government.

Plans call for investments in neighborhood infrastructure improvements, Parks & Recreation enhancements, and a continued commitment to providing resources to public safety will help ensure that Fort Wayne is the safest community possible.

2026 budget highlights:

*Continuation of commitment to neighborhood infrastructure projects with a planned investment of $40.5 million led by the Public Works Division, which includes $31.7 million for streets, roads and bridges, $4.9 million for sidewalks and alleys, and $3.9 million for trails. Work would include street construction projects in every City Council district, a new traffic signal at St. Joe Center Road and Meijer Drive, a new sidewalk on Trier Road from Reed to Maplecrest roads, and work on the Vann Family Crossing pedestrian bridge over Coliseum Boulevard for the Pufferbelly Trail.

*Investments in maintenance projects through the Parks & Recreation Department will total $4 million. Projects will include renovations to the McMillen Park pool, construction designs for the Hanna Homestead Park master plan, as well as new playgrounds at six parks.

*The Fort Wayne Police Department will have its 70th recruit class that will keep the budgeted number of officers patrolling City streets to protect the public at 510. The FWPD will strengthen community engagement programs through violence intervention efforts and the Citizens Police Academy, new technologies will be implemented along with the continuation of involvement in the Northeast Indiana Crime Gun Intelligence Center.

*The Fort Wayne Fire Department will have the 98th and 99th recruit classes with a total of 40 recruits. There will also be vehicle safety upgrades, new heart monitors to assist in providing medical care at emergencies, and investments in technology and equipment to assist firefighters.

*The City will utilize the State of Indiana’s allowable tax levy to assist in preserving funding to provide essential services

*The property tax supported budget including LIT – public safety, also known as the Civil City budget, totals $244.8 million. This budget does not include Fort Wayne City Utilities, which has its own budget funded by ratepayers.

“We’re committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and the proposed 2026 budget demonstrates our care and diligence in putting together a financial plan to serve and protect residents, neighborhoods, and businesses in unpredictable times due to Senate Bill 1,” said Mayor Tucker. “Over the next month, my administration and I will work with City Council to pass a budget that meets critical needs and helps sustain us for future years as a community that’s positioned for growth and success even with less revenues to work with.”

Senate Bill 1, passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Mike Braun earlier this year, seeks to reduce property taxes and changes the structure of the local income tax. But major portions of the new law will have financial ramifications now in and in the future. For example, due to Senate Bill 1, the City is proposing that $8.8 million be taken out of cash reserves to fund vital services to the community. The City will be receiving $25 million less in revenues from property taxes due to the circuit breaker (property tax caps). The City’s total expenses proposed in the 2026 budget are $855,500 less than the 2025 approved budget expenses.

Examples of positive indicators moving forward:

*Local assessed valuations on properties continue to rise
*Steady revenue growth has allowed the City to maintain a very strong fund balance over the past several years
*Through strong fiscal management in partnership with City Council, the City has sufficient cash reserves to be able to respond to emergencies in uncertain times

Mayor Tucker’s Administration will present the budget at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The budget is available HERE

Fort Wayne continues to be an award-winning community. Fiscal responsibility is one of the best practices measurements that has helped Fort Wayne achieve national recognition.

Highlights of 2025 awards for the City of Fort Wayne:

*10th best run city in the country by WalletHub
*3rd best city in the country for first time homebuyers by Consumer Affairs
*19th best housing market in the country by The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com for Summer 2025 and 13th best housing market in Spring 2025