Sangamon Digest

Halfway through the fiscal year, Springfield’s finances look better than planned, budget director Ramona Metzger told the City Council on Tuesday, Capitol City Now reports. She said the city swung roughly $23 million — from an originally budgeted $11.8 million deficit to a positive $11.4 million for Fiscal Year 2026 — thanks mainly to stronger-than-budgeted revenues, conservative spending and the timing of multi-year grants.

Metzger said the current FY2027 estimate is also improving on better-than-expected property and sales tax revenue, helped by delayed equipment purchases and “natural hiring lags.” The worry remains police and fire pensions: property tax revenue isn’t enough to cover the annual contributions, and WCM Springfield reports this year’s levies are expected to fall about $4 million short. The city’s fiscal year runs March 1 to Feb. 28.