Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

Thank you for your interest in the City's budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2026. The City’s operating budget (day-to-day costs of providing city services) is approximately $172 million and the capital budget, which includes major projects and improvements, is approximately $86 million.

Submit Your Ideas

Share your ideas directly with City staff using our online form. These ideas could be capital improvements, such as park improvements, street improvements, or new amenities. They could also be service-related, such as specific programming, recreation classes, or a change in how a service is provided. Submitted input will assist in the development of a recommended budget.

Open Budget Tool

Budget Meetings & Related Documents

The City of Dubuque's budget process began with a special meeting on Monday, March 3, with a special session to set a public hearing on the FY2026 proposed property tax levy amount.

At the public hearing on Tuesday, March 25, the only options available to city council were to approve the amount of proposed property tax dollars established at the March 3 meeting, or decrease it. The March 25 public hearing allowed any resident or taxpayer to present objections to or arguments in favor of the proposed tax amount. As always, residents and stakeholders can provide input to city council members at any time by contacting them directly. Contact information and a link to email all council members are available at www.cityofdubuque.org/councilcontacts 

A special city council meeting Monday, March 31 featured the FY2026 recommended budget document presentation to the city council. 

Following the March 25 public hearing and March 31 special meeting, the budget process continued with public meetings to review City department/division budget proposals before concluding with a final public hearing on Monday, April 28, to adopt the FY2026 Operating and Capital Budgets.

All budget meetings were held in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of the Historic Federal Building at 350 W. Sixth St. beginning at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Meetings aired live on CityChannel Dubuque on Mediacom cable channels 8 and 117.2 and ImOn channel 5, streamed and archived on the City's website, and streamed on the City's Facebook page.

The public was offered the opportunity to provide input in person or virtually through the GoToMeeting platform. Instructions were found within the meeting agenda. Public input on the FY2026 budget could also be submitted online through the budget public comments form on this page. Residents may also contact City Council members at any time.

Printed copies of the recommended budget materials will be made available for checkout from the Carnegie-Stout Public Library Reference Desk. For more information, contact Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Larson via email or at 563-589-4398.

Public Input Meetings

Monday, March 3, 5:15 p.m. | Watch

Tuesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m. | Watch

Monday, March 31, 6:30 p.m. | Watch

Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, April 3, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, April 10, 6:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. 

Monday, April 28, 6:30 p.m. | Watch

Recommended Resident’s Budget Guide

The Resident's Budget Guide provides a synopsis of the City’s recommended budget and guidelines. It includes an overview of the adopted budget, revenue and expenditure summaries, debt summaries, and a summary of the capital budget.

Recommended Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

As the plan for the City’s physical development effort, the CIP attempts to address a variety of needs that the City must meet if it is to maintain its physical facilities, meet its service commitments, and provide for its future development. The CIP reflects the City’s comprehensive plan and the goals and priorities established by the City Council.

Taxpayer Receipt

Where do your City tax dollars go? The online taxpayer receipt is designed to illustrate how your estimated City property taxes and local option sales tax are allocated to services such as Police, Fire, Parks, and Public Works. All information provided is anonymous.

Balancing Act Budget Simulator

The Balancing Act simulation tool provides an in-depth look at the City budget. You can adjust revenues and expenditures, and then provide comments on how YOU think the City of Dubuque should spend its money. Budgets are submitted anonymously and demographic exit questions are optional.

  • Try the Balancing Act budget simulator

Public Notice of March 25 Public Hearing on Property Tax Levy

FY26 Notice of Public Hearing

Public Input Meeting

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at 6 p.m.
A public input meeting was held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in the City Council Chambers at the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. Sixth St. City Manager Mike Van Milligen and Finance and Budget Department staff provided general information on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget process and then meeting attendees were asked to share their thoughts on what they would like to see funded in their neighborhoods and the community-at-large.

Dollars & Cents 

Download the FY26 Dollars & Cents document, which provides an overview of property taxes, budget, utility rates, and the debt reduction plan.

Written comments can also be mailed to: City Manager, City Hall, 50 West 13th Street, Dubuque, IA, 52001.