YOUNGSTOWN — City council approved a $254 million budget for 2026 that includes $10.8 million in capital improvements and expenditures from the general fund.

City council voted 7-0 Wednesday in favor of the budget.

Council annually has until March 31 to approve a budget for that year.

Of the $10,776,825 from the general fund going toward capital improvements, $4.62 million is allocated for road improvements.

The two largest projects are $1.3 million for the annual neighborhood resurfacing program and $1.2 million for improvements to three city streets that should be less than the budget allocation.

The resurfacing work is for Gibson Street from Poland to Indianola avenues, Liberty from Atkinson to Bott avenues, and Shehy from Lincoln Park Drive to Loveless Avenue.

The board of control recently approved a $766,977 contract for the work.

Other capital improvement expenses are $2,593,000 for the fire department with $2.11 million for the purchase of two pumper trucks, and $800,000 for a storage building for the city-owned Covelli Centre.

The capital improvements also include $1,001,500 for various street department work with the largest expense being $350,000 for an incinerator to burn brush.

“The department heads came to the administration requesting what they believe is critical to operate their departments,” said city Finance Director Kyle Miasek. “Council has to authorize the expenses if we expend these funds. The budget is what they approved at the department level. But if it hasn’t already been previously approved, such as the fire trucks, it must get approval from council.”

Also, the city is paying $1,403,061 to Emergency Medical Transport to provide ambulance service in Youngstown.

There is also a total of $7.24 million in capital improvement projects for the water, wastewater and environmental sanitation funds. That work includes replacing lead waterlines and pump station improvements.

The largest expense for the city is salaries and benefits for its employees. Most workers received 4% raises this year.

Because there are 27 pay periods this year as compared to 26 in most years, there is an additional expense of about $1 million across all funds, Miasek said.

The city’s general fund started 2026 with a $14.2 million unencumbered balance and if all expenses are paid, it should finish the year with about $5.6 million.

The general fund is anticipated to have $43 million in revenue this year and $51.6 million in expenses if everything is spent, Miasek said.

Miasek said he doesn’t have any concerns about a shortfall in the general fund for 2027 — also noting that most years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the general fund had significantly less money in it.

“The mayor and the department heads understand the city’s financial circumstances,” he said. “How we end 2026 will determine what we spend in capital expenditures in 2027.”

The city collected $57,291,300 in 2025 from its income tax and business profit tax. It was the second-highest amount of gross tax collection in the city’s history.

Miasek said he expects 1.81% growth this year, compared to 2025, with $58,330 in gross income and business tax collections.