The Galesburg City Council approved an $89.8 million budget for 2026 on Monday night. The spending plan outlines funding for city operations, public safety, parks, capital projects, enterprise funds and special revenue programs.
According to the city’s fund summary, the budget includes $86.2 million in revenues and $6.1 million in transfers from other sources.
General Fund totals $33.1 million
The city’s General Fund, which supports day-to-day operations, includes $32.9 million in revenues and $33.1 million in expenditures.
Public safety remains the largest area of General Fund spending:
- Police: $9.85 million
- Fire: $8.88 million
Other General Fund allocations include:
- Street and bridge maintenance: $2.12 million
- Communications and records: $2.79 million
- Inspections: $1.02 million
- Legal: $229,990
Parks and recreation budget totals $5.87 million
The city’s Park Fund shows $5.74 million in revenues and $5.87 million in expenditures for 2026.
Major line items include:
- Park administration: $2.42 million
- Golf course: $986,485
- Lakeside Water Park: $320,170
- Forestry (tree maintenance and removal): $414,040
- Hawthorne Pool: $140,995
- Lakeside Recreation Facility: $97,085
Special revenue funds support $25.9 million in spending
Special revenue funds include $24.1 million in revenues, with additional funding from other sources supporting $25.9 million in expenditures.
Notable items include:
- Grants Fund: $7.99 million
- Storm Water Utility: $809,885 in revenues and $1.35 million in expenditures
- Economic Development: $1.84 million in expenditures
- Public transportation services: $3.08 million in expenditures
Capital projects total $7.64 million
The city has budgeted $7.64 million for capital projects in 2026, including facility maintenance, street work, tax increment financing districts and utility improvements.
Major capital items include:
- 2023 general obligation bond capital expense: $2.64 million
- Building repair and maintenance: $1.02 million
- Planning Fund: $796,000
- Utility tax capital projects: $1.65 million
Enterprise funds include water and refuse
Enterprise operations, which are supported by service fees rather than taxes, total $12.1 million in revenues and $11.14 million in expenditures.
- Water operations: $7.53 million
- Refuse services: $3.62 million
Library funding
The Galesburg Public Library, listed as a component unit of the city, shows $2.43 million in revenues and $2.36 million in expenditures for 2026. Library revenues primarily come from property taxes and state funding rather than service fees.
Other city funds
Additional funds in the 2026 budget include:
- Internal service funds: $8.7 million in revenues
- OPEB Trust: $149,820
- Permanent cemetery funds: $28,895 in revenues