The Dublin City Council on Nov. 3 unanimously approved the city’s 2026 operating budget and 2026–2030 capital improvements plan, and amended the measure to remove a previously included $250,000 placeholder for a parking-ticket/parking-study initiative.

City staff presented the 2026 operating budget and capital plan, noting follow-up information about a proposed public-safety cost model for policing and a minor technical change to reflect a finalized county health contract. Staff said the all-funds appropriations for 2026 total just under $280,000,000, including about $119,500,000 for operating funds and roughly $68,400,000 for the 2026 capital program.

Council members debated whether to retain a $250,000 line item tied to a parking-related effort while an RFP defines scope and cost. Several members said keeping the $250,000 in the adopted budget could signal support for that specific amount before staff completed an RFP; others said leaving it in and requiring council approval before any expenditure was also acceptable. After discussion, Council moved to amend the ordinance to remove the $250,000 placeholder and approved the amendment by unanimous roll call.

Jennifer Miglietti presented a companion ordinance amending the non‑union compensation plan; she said no changes had been made since the ordinance’s first reading and recommended approval. Staff also introduced the appropriations ordinance for 2026 (Ordinance 47‑25) and told council the final appropriation ordinance will be revised for second reading to reflect the amendment removing the $250,000 placeholder.

Councilors asked staff to apply the same rigor to revenue forecasting as is used for expense estimates in future budget cycles and requested earlier committee discussion of financial-policy choices before the formal budget process.

Actions requested and adopted were technical and appropriations measures necessary to implement the operating budget, and staff said any future revisions to appropriations would come back to council via supplemental appropriation requests.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the all-funds 2026 appropriation was presented as just under $280 million; the operating-fund portion cited was approximately $119.5 million and the 2026 capital budget next‑year allocation approximately $68.4 million. The amendment to remove the $250,000 placeholder was adopted by unanimous vote.