Worthington City Council received the proposed 2026 operating budget on October 13, outlining how the city plans to spend approximately $43 million while maintaining current service levels and supporting critical infrastructure needs.
Budget Priorities
City Manager Robyn Stewart presented the budget framework, emphasizing that the top priority remains maintaining Worthington's current high level of city services. "We know that the community highly values the city's existing services, so we start first with understanding what it takes to fund those services," Stewart explained.
The budget proposal includes no new positions, a decision made in response to a significant employer announcing plans to relocate out of Worthington within the next year. This cautious approach aims to protect the city's long-term financial stability.
Where the Money Goes
Finance Director Scott Bartter detailed how the budget breaks down by service area:
- Public Safety (Police, Fire, and NREC dispatch): $18.5 million (43%) - The largest portion of city spending
- Parks and Recreation: $7.4 million (17%)
- General Administration: $6.3 million (15%) - Including HR, IT, and legislative administration
- Other Services: $10.8 million (25%) - Including engineering, planning, and economic development
Personnel costs—salaries, wages, pensions, and health insurance—account for 75% of the budget, with the remaining 25% going to contractual services like refuse collection, income tax collection, and 911 dispatching.
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Capital Investment Strategy
A key theme of the budget is continued use of general fund dollars to support capital infrastructure projects. The proposal includes:
- $500,000 annual transfer to the Capital Improvement Program (continuing through 2030)
- $1.2 million one-time transfer to purchase a fire engine, with a four-year lead time expected before delivery
- Total of $10 million in general fund support to capital projects by the end of 2030
This strategy essentially repays a $13.6 million reallocation from capital to general fund that occurred during the difficult financial years of 2009-2013, helping the city rebuild infrastructure reserves.
Policy Agenda Funding
The budget allocates funds for several policy initiatives:
- A one-time allocation of $500,000 to be put toward housing initiatives.
- A one-time allocation for consulting assistance related to amenities and improvements in the Northeast Gateway area
- A general allocation of $50,000 for policy implementation.
- Continued funding for the deer management program.
A 3% inflationary increase for its nonprofit partners was also proposed. An additional $20,000 was allocated to the community grant program to help support the increasing demands from nonprofits providing services in the community.
Revenue Outlook
The city expects $34.5 million in income tax collections for 2026, representing a 3% increase over 2025. However, Bartter noted that projections for 2027-2029 show more conservative 2% growth rates, down from the typical 2.5-3% increases, due to the anticipated loss of a major employer.
Property taxes, the second-largest revenue source, are projected at $5.8 million. Notably, the outdoor pool bond issue will add approximately 0.92 mills to the property tax rate for 2026, though Bartter indicated the actual number may be lower pending final calculations with the county auditor.
Parks and Recreation revenue estimates increased to $3 million, reflecting strong post-COVID participation and recent fee structure updates.
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Fund Balance Management
The budget projects spending down the general fund balance from its current level of approximately 73-75% of annual expenditures to a healthier range closer to the city's target of 35-50%. This drawdown results from both the capital transfers and the strategic investments in community priorities.
Despite this spending, the five-year forecast shows the city maintaining a fund balance above the 35% minimum threshold through 2030.
What's Still Pending
Several budget components remain in flux:
- Health insurance costs for 2026 continue to escalate and aren't yet locked in
- Columbus Board of Health contract numbers have not been received
- NREC (regional dispatch center) costs are still being finalized
Public Input Opportunities
The budget adoption process includes several public meetings through early December:
- October 20: Capital Improvement Program overview
- November 4: Operating budget review by functional area
- November 11: Operating budget questions and answers
- December 1: Public hearing and final adoption
Residents can also interact with the budget online through the city's "Balancing Act" tool at worthington.org/budget, which allows community members to adjust budget priorities and see the impacts of different choices.