Fort Wayne City Council members are proposing almost $18 million in cuts to the 2026 budget proposal in an effort to offset an expected $19 million budget deficit.

Those cuts include $1.5 million from trails, $500,000 from Arts United and more than $3.8 million from the proposed third phase of riverfront development. This year's totals for each budgetline were not included in the documents shared by the city clerk's office on Friday.

Council President Russ Jehl, R-2nd, submitted the most proposals.

“The city administration’s spending plan shows a $19 million structural deficit,” he said. “We’ve been talking with the administration about how to narrow that gap, and maybe even balance it. At this point, I think there is a growing consensus among council that we can get there.”

Jehl said

See Full Page