COLUMBIA — The Columbia City Council unanimously passed the fiscal year 2026 budget on Monday after months of meetings and five town halls. The general fund, which supports daily operations, will be at a deficit of $2.7 million.

In comparison to the fiscal year 2025 budget, the city will make 3.6% more revenue but spend 6.3% more than last year.

Within the expenditures is around $64 million for capital improvement projects and around $29.5 in debt service.

A portion of contention in the FY26 budget was the general fund, which will have to dip into reserves to cover the budgeted expenditures. The general fund covers departments such as city administration, health & environment, public safety and transportation.

Within the general fund, the city is estimated to spend $135,361,435, bu

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