Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

Thank you for your interest in the City's budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2026, and ends on June 30, 2027. The City’s Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget (day-to-day costs of providing city services) is approximately $184.5 million and the capital budget, which includes major projects and improvements, is approximately $91.9 million.

Sumbit Your Ideas

We want your input!

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 public is invited to attend the public hearings and meetings related to the FY2027 budget. The schedule of public hearings and meetings will be added to this page when it is finalized.

The FY2027 recommended budget document will be presented to the City Council during its regular meeting on Monday, April 6. The budget process will continue with public meetings to review City department/division budget proposals on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, April 7
  • Thursday, April 9
  • Monday, April 13
  • Wednesday, April 15
  • Thursday, April 16
  • Tuesday, April 21
  • Wednesday, April 22

The budget process concludes with a final public hearing on Tuesday, April 28, to adopt the FY2027 Operating and Capital Budgets.

All budget meetings will be 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 will air live on CityChannel Dubuque (Mediacom cable channels 8 and 117.2 and ImOn channel 5), streamed and archived on the City's website at www.cityofdubuque.org/media, and streamed on the City's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofdubuque. The public can provide input in person or virtually. Instructions can be found within the meeting agenda.

The public can provide input in person or virtually through the GoToMeeting platform. Instructions can be found within the meeting agenda at www.cityofdubuque.org/agendas. Public input on the FY2027 budget may also be submitted online through the budget public comments form on this page. Residents may also contact City Council members at www.cityofdubuque.org/councilcontacts.  

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 at 563-589-4398 or jlarson@cityofdubuque.org. 

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.

Public Input Meeting

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at 6 p.m.

A public input meeting was held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in the City Council Chambers at the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. Sixth St. City staff provided general information on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process and 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 

The Fiscal Year 2026 Dollars & Cents document 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.