Glasgow City Council members discuss the city’s 2026-27 budget during their regular meeting on June 8, 2026. Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
Glasgow City Council members approved the first reading of the city’s 2026-27 budget during their meeting on Monday, June 8. They also approved a financial incentive for Sharp Carts, LLC., which allows the company to retain 1 percent of its 1.75 percent occupational tax.
Discussions of the upcoming budget dominated the hour-long meeting. Terry Bunnell, council member and chair of the city’s finance committee, attended the meeting via Zoom. He was called on first as discussion began among council members, wherein he explained that the nearly $30 million budget presented to the council was the product of hours of work from department heads and city treasurer Victoria Simmons.
As previously reported, the budget shows a $1.1 million surplus once expenses have been subtracted from projected revenue.
“It’s very positive to see your revenue exceed your expenditures,” Bunnell said. “This budget allows us to build some surpluses back to the city which is very important.
“Overall, it’s a very fair budget.”
The budget approved by the council shows estimated revenues of $29.2 million against projected expenditures of $28.1 million across all city funds. Combined with an estimated carryover balance of $21.7 million, the city projects ending the fiscal year with approximately $22.8 million in total fund balances.
The city’s General Fund remains its largest operating fund, with projected revenues of $22.1 million and expenditures of $21.9 million. The budget anticipates the General Fund ending the year with a balance of roughly $8.48 million.
Other major funds include the Sanitation and Landfill Fund, which projects more than $5 million in revenue and an ending balance of $4.6 million.
Several city departments are also slated for significant expenditures during the coming fiscal year. The police department’s budget totals approximately $5.7 million, while the fire department is projected at roughly $4.5 million. Street operations account for more than $3.4 million, while the recreation department is budgeted at approximately $1.7 million.
Council member Marna Kirkpatrick was the lone dissenting vote in accepting the budget as she had a “chaotic weekend,” and was unable to review the budget to her satisfaction.
The budget will need a second approval and is expected to go before the council again later this month.
The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance connected to a Kentucky Business Investment Program application submitted by Sharp Carts, LLC.
Under the proposed agreement, Sharp Carts would be permitted to retain or receive a rebate of 1 percent of the city’s 1.75 percent occupational license tax paid on employee wages for a period of 10 years following the project’s activation date. The incentive applies only to payroll-related occupational taxes and does not affect any taxes on company profits or other revenue.
The incentive is contingent upon the company receiving final approval through the Kentucky Business Investment Program and meeting all eligibility requirements established by the state.
The next meeting of the Glasgow City Council is scheduled for 6 pm. on June 22.
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