Columbus adopts $150M 2027 budget; final property tax rate to be set after state review

The Republic reported on Oct. 9, 2026, that the Columbus City Council voted 8-1 to adopt a $150 million budget for 2027. The budget document anticipates a 2027 certified property tax rate of about $1.1169 per $100 of assessed value, but the final certified rate and levy will be determined after review by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) in the next couple of months.

The proposed 2027 total is $150 million, up from $149.8 million in 2026. The budget estimates revenue composition at roughly 44% property taxes, 36% local income taxes and about 6% federal and state grants. City schedules include $150,000 for two municipal election rounds and $450,000 for a stormwater master plan; the report lists $61 million in funds not reviewed by the DLGF (including a $25 million FAA Grant Fund and a $15.8 million Insurance Non-reverting Fund) and $89.2 million in funds reviewed by the DLGF. The plan adds a full-time mechanic in Public Works and a full-time recreation fitness coordinator in parks. Employee health insurance premiums are projected to rise 9%, and the employer share of health insurance is budgeted to increase by 77%. The city expects net assessed value near $4 billion, up just under 2% from last year, and listed planned projects including a full rebuild of Talley Road and a traffic-calming project on 25th Street.

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