Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

The City of Columbia budget outlines priorities for the fiscal year that runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 each year. We know our budget is complex, and it can be confusing. Our hope is to clarify this process so everyone can better understand how fiscal decisions are being made and why your feedback is so important. On the right side of this page, we’ve provided a Glossary of Terms and answers to several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage you to share your comments and questions below as we move ahead in crafting the FY2026 budget. Also follow this project to be notified of additional opportunities to learn and be heard!

We will also host three Budget Townhalls, a series of information sessions and interactive activities to help everyone connect the dots between numbers in a budget document and projects the City is working on. We invite you to attend any or all of these to learn more and share what's important to you.

Townhall 1: Budget Overview was held Jan. 9, 2025 (11:30 am - 1:30 p.m.) and will be held again on Jan. 16, 2025 (6 - 8 p.m.)

This first Budget Townhall will provide a fun, informative overview of our budget process. We will break down the different types of funds and how they can be used, give an overview of where City revenues come from and answer all of your budget-related questions. (The Powerpoint presentation that was given on Jan. 9 can be found on the right side of this page, under the Materials tab.)

Townhall 2: Budget Priorities will be held Feb. 25, 2025 (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) and Feb. 26, 2025 (6 - 8 p.m.)

The second Budget Townhall will explore how City staff and council members set the budget to reflect resident priorities. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a budget simulation exercise with fictional money and projects similar to those reflected in the City's budget.

Townhall 3: Capital Improvement Projects will be held Apr. 14, 2025 (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m.)

The third and final Budget Townhall will focus on what Capital Improvement Projects are and how they impact the City’s fiscal plan. Capital Improvement Projects can take several years to complete, with fluctuating expenses each year. Join us to learn how our finance team navigates this and keeps our budget in balance.

Refreshments will be provided at the Budget Townhalls. To ensure we have enough for everyone, we encourage you to RSVP if possible, using this link: https://forms.gle/1hzYcJKkFjSLLpZh8.