City Manager to present proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget Feb. 12

posted on: 2/10/2025

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. will present the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

The City Manager’s budget will incorporate the School Board’s recommended budget for the School Department, which the School Board approved on Jan. 6. The city-wide budget will also include the first-year projects in the latest six-year Capital Improvements Program adopted in December.

Once the budget is introduced, a digital version will be available on the FY2026 Budget Revealed webpage, which will also include video recordings of budget meetings and workshops and any accompanying documents. A physical copy of the budget will also be available for review at the Dover Public Library and the City Clerk’s office. School Board budget documents and video recordings are already posted on the page.

The introduction of the budget begins two months of budget review by the City Council. In subsequent weeks, the City Council will hold workshops to review each department's budget. The Council will also hold two public hearings: one for the public education component of the budget, and one for all other city departments. The City Charter requires the City Council to adopt the annual budget by April 15.

Budget Meeting Schedule

All budget meetings begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

• Wednesday, Feb. 12 – Regular Meeting: FY2026 Proposed Budget Presentation
• Thursday, Feb. 20 – Workshop: School, Executive, Finance, Planning, and Welfare departmental budget presentations
• Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Regular Meeting: School Budget Public Hearing
• Wednesday, March 5 – Workshop: Police, Fire and Rescue, and Recreation departmental budget presentations
• Wednesday, March 12 – Regular Meeting: City Budget Public Hearing
• Wednesday, March 19 – Workshop: Community Services, Library, and DoverNet departmental budget presentations
• Wednesday, March 26 – Regular Meeting (Public can speak during Public Forum)
• Wednesday, April 2 – 6 p.m. Workshop: General Budget Review
• Wednesday, April 2 – Special Meeting: Budget Adoption (immediately following the workshop)
• Wednesday, April 9 – Regular Meeting: Fallback budget adoption date

During the budget season, City Manager Joyal will also release a weekly newsletter that recaps any budget-related presentations and a look ahead to what will occur the following week. Sign up for the newsletter at bit.ly/doverdownload, and select "Budget Revealed" from the list of newsletters.