Toledo residents will learn the city’s 2027 budget on Sunday, as the deadline approaches following a voter rejection of a proposed quarter‑percent income tax increase. The defeat, reported by 13abc.com, puts city leaders under pressure to identify spending reductions while preserving essential services.
Mayor Lori Saxton and her administration warned that the loss of the tax could force layoffs as the city moves into 2027. Councilman George Sarantou (I) echoed those concerns, saying, “Clearly the administration is going to have to have major proposals for reductions in expenditures. And that’s what we’re going to be waiting on to see what they do.” He added that while he does not want cuts to police or fire departments, those areas have been discussed as possible targets.
The city spokeswoman confirmed that budget decisions are still being finalized and that council members will review the numbers once presented. “We have to see what those numbers are specifically and what the negative effect is. You certainly cannot decimate a department or several departments in the city of Toledo,” Sarantou said. “All of the departments have to be functioning, not only because of federal and state funding but because we have to serve the public.”
One potential casualty mentioned in recent weeks is the municipal swimming pool program. The pool was cited as a possible budget cut if the income tax measure had passed; with the measure now defeated, officials must decide whether the pool will face reductions or closure.
Public safety remains the council’s top priority, according to Sarantou: “In my book, public safety is number one. That’s our biggest and huge responsibility that we have and we have to preserve public safety as much as possible.” The council will weigh any proposed cuts against that priority when reviewing the budget proposal.
City officials have not yet released detailed figures on which departments might see reductions, but they emphasized that any cuts will aim to keep core services operational. The upcoming council meeting on Sunday will be the first opportunity for elected officials to scrutinize the draft budget and determine the final allocation of resources.
What’s next: The Toledo City Council will convene on Sunday to receive the draft budget from the mayor’s office. Council members will debate proposed cuts, and a final budget will need to be approved before the start of the 2027 fiscal year. Residents can follow the council’s deliberations through live streams and local news outlets for updates on how the budget may affect city services.
Sources: 13abc.com
