The City of Eau Claire has presented a balanced proposed operating budget for 2027 after working for about nine months to close an expected shortfall of more than $2 million.
Finance Director Kitzie Winters said the city started with a $2.4 million deficit to continue 2026 operations and received about $892,000 in added property tax revenue from net new construction. She described the approach as a scalpel approach rather than across-the-board cuts.
As part of the plan, the city would leave 10 currently vacant positions unfilled, including a fiscal associate, a building inspector and the deputy city manager post. Winters said there are no plans for further position reductions at this time, though new hiring outside emergency services is expected to remain limited.
The General Fund, which pays for police and fire protection, street work, snow plowing, parks and recreation, is proposed at about $103 million, compared with about $100 million in 2026. The Economic Development Fund would see the largest percentage increase, rising 23.6 percent to just over $580,000.
City Manager Dave Solberg and Winters are scheduled to present the proposal and take public feedback from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center. The City Council is expected to continue discussing the budget and approve a final version before the end of November.
