City Council Work Session

Agenda

• 1aFY27 Budget Presentation by Schools

  Outcome: Superintendent Dustin Wright presented the FY27 Schools budget, covering city schools overview, school services agreement, city membership, tuition and FCPS updates, and the schools' budget. No Council action was taken.

• 1bDiscussion on General Fund Questions and Discussion

  Outcome: City Manager Daniel Alexander opened the floor for Council questions and discussion on general fund topics. No Council action was taken.

• 1cDiscussion on Historical Real Estate Tax Rates for the City

  Outcome: CFO J.C. Martinez presented 25 years of historical real estate tax rate data. Council directed staff to present at the next work session a graph comparing budget actual/expenditure growth rates to assessment growth rates. No formal Council action was taken.

• 1dDiscussion on Setting the Max Real Estate Tax Rate (Action Item for March 10, 2026)

  Outcome: City Manager Daniel Alexander discussed options of maintaining the proposed rate or increasing it slightly as a buffer. Finance staff noted readiness to answer questions and provide historical information. No Council action was taken; formal action is scheduled for March 10, 2026.

• 1eFollow-up on City Council Retreat and Next Steps

  Outcome: City Manager Daniel Alexander reported on outcomes of the January 10, 2026 Council Retreat. Council affirmed consensus on a city-wide, community-focused, multi-year strategic plan; agreed to a two-tier performance management framework (strategic outcomes scorecard and internal service-area scorecards); and discussed the scope of an efficiency study covering organizational structure, staffing, contracts, cost recovery, facilities, and staff-driven innovation. No formal Council action was taken.