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Budget season in Batavia has begun.
Officials have proposed several rate and tax increases next year to keep up with inflation, maintain services, and start saving for major infrastructure needs — including a future police facility.
The 2026 budget, discussed at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, focuses on long-term stability and service improvements rather than short-term cuts.
Key things to know
Property tax increase: The budget proposes a 10-cent increase in the City’s property tax rate in 2026, from $0.76 to $0.86 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation (EAV), an increase of 13.1%.
Sales tax bump: A new 0.5% home-rule sales tax would raise Batavia’s total rate to 8.5%. The added revenue would go toward a fund for a new police station, reducing future borrowing needs.
Utility rate changes: Residents would see a 3% increase in electric rates (the first since 2015), a 3% water hike, and an 8% sewer hike — plus a new monthly “capital fee” of $3.75 for residential customers and $7.50 for commercial customers to build reserves for future water/sewer maintenance.
Personnel: The proposed plan calls for adding two police officers, two firefighters, and a Management Analyst to be utilized by both the Fire and Police Departments.
Officials say these adjustments aim to preserve public safety and infrastructure while staying roughly in the middle of comparable suburban tax rates. They emphasized that balancing budgets with reserves isn’t sustainable long-term — likening it to “using savings to pay your mortgage.”
Key upcoming dates:
November 18: Public hearing on the budget
November 25: Public hearing on the tax levies
View Batavia’s full 2026 proposed budget. Watch the committee meeting recording.
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