Alcoa is gearing up to review a roughly $200 million fiscal 2027 budget next Tuesday, and city leaders say they plan to do it without touching property tax rates. City Manager Bruce Applegate says the draft budget holds the line on city property taxes even as departments push for big-ticket equipment and capital projects.
The Board of Commissioners is set to take its first vote on the proposal at the May 12 meeting and, if the schedule holds, could wrap up final approval at a special-called session on May 22, according to The Daily Times. The draft bundles operating, utility, and capital spending into a single package that would represent a noticeable jump from last year’s totals.
Big-Ticket Projects On The Table
The proposal steers about $2 million toward upgrades at the regional wastewater treatment plant, roughly $400,000 for transmission line improvements in the Heritage community and more than $1.6 million in equipment replacement requests across three departments. The landfill is seeking about $1.1 million for a grinder-shredder purchase and construction of a new cell, and the police firing range is also in line for upgrades. Electric rates are expected to change beginning in October.
Even with those costs, “The city is not planning to raise city property taxes for fiscal year 2027-28,” Applegate told The Daily Times.
How This Fits Into Alcoa’s Recent Spending
The draft comes on the heels of a year of steady capital investment. Prior documents for FY 2026 show transfers into the equipment replacement fund and sizable appropriations for the landfill in records published by the City of Alcoa.
The Board’s calendar lists the May 12 meeting and related budget workshops in the city’s online agenda system, also hosted by the City of Alcoa, where residents can check meeting times and materials.
Commissioners are expected to debate the spending plan and take public comment before any vote on first reading. If the proposal clears that hurdle, final ratification is scheduled for a May 22 special session, with room in the timeline if commissioners decide they need more discussion.
