An at-large Fort Wayne City Council member today said the nearly $18 million in proposed budget cuts that will be discussed Tuesday are "shortsighted and unnecessary."

Michelle Chambers told reporters during a late-afternoon press conference that Mayor Sharon Tucker’s 2026 budget proposal is “lean” and has been “intentionally put together.”

“Departments have done cuts and done cuts,” she said. “I believe that we have the funds right now to fully support this 2026 budget that really mirrors the 2025 budget.”

Next year’s budget proposal is almost $856,000 below what council passed for this year.

Tucker’s proposal calls for pulling $8.8 million from the city’s cash reserves to offset Senate Enrolled Act 1’s impact.

Controller Pat Roller said at the budget announcement the city's cash res

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