KINGSTON – The Kingston Common Council has voted to approve a $63.3 million city budget for 2026.
The general fund budget, which was approved by a vote of 7-2 Tuesday evening, will increase spending by nearly $3.5 million over last year and will raise property taxes for the second year in a row by nearly six percent.
Just before the budget was approved, the council voted in favor of an amendment presented by the Finance and Audit Committee.
The amendment raised Mayor Steve Noble’s recommended spending plan to $63,383, 672.
It’s a 31,000 increase to the budget that Noble unveiled back in October.
The council says the increase does not affect the amount taxpayers will shell out.
Alderman Teryl Mickens of the Fifth Ward apologized to the residents of Kingston for the tax increase. She was one of two alderpersons who voted against the budget.
“At this point, this is insult to injury given the increase of food prices, utilities and insurance costs that we are all faced with. Here we are with $63 million budget for a population of 24,000 people,” said Mickens. “My fear is that if these tax increases continue, residents will be voting with their feet and many of those who will leave will be working-age adults.”
Alderman Sara Pasti of the First Ward voted in favor the budget.
“Am I pleased to be voting for a budget that will be raising taxes on our residents to address the financial pressures of the city? No,” said Pasti. “But I concluded that to move the city forward in areas of public safety, city services and necessary investments in infrastructure, this budget is the best way forward for the city in light of what we are facing both locally and nationally.”
Last year’s budget was just under $60 million.
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