Fort Wright City Council members outlined a spending plan for the next fiscal year, which they described at Wednesday’s regular meeting as steady, conservative, and reflective of ongoing infrastructure and safety needs.
Council held the first reading of its budget ordinance for fiscal year 2026-2027 at the meeting.
The current fiscal year ends June 30, with the new budget taking effect July 1.
City Administrator Jill Cain Bailey said the revenue projections for the coming year are “conservative and comparable to other fiscal years,” noting that the city continues to budget cautiously while maintaining essential services.
The proposed budget for the new fiscal year includes total budgeted revenues of $7,176,683.25 and total expenses of $6,671,532.32, leaving an estimated surplus of $505,150.93.
Mayor Dave Hatter emphasized the cost of maintaining city operations and infrastructure.
“This is an expensive operation to run,” Hatter said. “It takes a lot of input from the team. It is a real team effort between the department heads to not spend money. Streets don’t fix themselves for free.”
The proposed budget directs funding toward several key areas, including ambulance repairs and other essential emergency‑service costs, along with fire department capital improvements such as a full ambulance replacement. It also sets aside money for sidewalk work along Dixie Highway, new vehicles and equipment through the city’s capital improvement fund, increased employee benefits, and higher street‑lighting expenses.
Additional allocations support upgrades to the city’s salt‑bin storage and planned playground projects. The spending plan also fully funds the city’s emergency reserve: an amount equal to 15% of the previous year’s audited general fund expenses.
Bailey noted that the fire department’s budget appears larger than usual because the city is still awaiting two months of expenditures to close out the current fiscal year. Council members Margie Witt and Justin Weber raised questions about fire department numbers, which Bailey said were addressed in the accompanying budget amendment.
The city also budgeted for staffing adjustments. Fort Wright was down one fire department employee for the entire year but had still allocated for the position. Two additional employees have been on extended leave, increasing overtime costs and prompting adjustments in the new budget.
Fire and EMS Chief Steve Schewe said the department operates as a “365‑day operation,” emphasizing that emergency response never stops. He noted that funding for a new ambulance is necessary to maintain reliability, and once the new unit arrives, the current ambulance will be moved into a backup role.
Fort Wright serves approximately 2,200+ homes and 6,200 residents, with 47 city employees.
Bailey described the budget as routine.
“Nothing exceptional in this budget,” she said, noting that the city continues to prioritize essential services and long‑term maintenance.
Hatter echoed that sentiment, adding a reminder to residents:
“It is your city. It’s your assets.”
The full budget will be posted on the city’s website once the ordinance receives final approval.
Department heads “always come in under budget,” Bailey said as she thanked them for their work.
The next Fort Wright Caucus meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright, KY 41011.
