Submitted by City of Noblesville
The Noblesville Common Council has approved the Civil City 2026 budget totaling $119,261,048 to fund city operations, personnel, projects, and programs.
Mayor Chris Jensen and city leaders strategically developed the 2026 budget to address an $8.2 million revenue shortfall in fiscal year 2026 caused by Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), which lowers the city’s projected local tax collections by $30.4 million over the next four years. The overall 2026 budget is $8.4 million lower than the 2025 adopted budget.
Click here to read the full budget summary on the city’s website.
Ongoing expense increases for city departments were kept under 1 percent based on the impact of SEA 1 on the 2026 property tax levy and five-year revenue forecast. The budget includes less than $1 million in overall core operational base budget growth, and a property tax rate decrease from $1.10 per $100 assessed value in 2025 to no higher than $1.00 in 2026.
Jensen
“The 2026 budget continues our emphasis on living within our means, being good stewards of taxpayer funds, and making smart investments in our community,” Mayor Jensen said. “I’m proud that as one of the fastest growing communities in state with increasing public demands in infrastructure, public safety, and core services, we were able to work with the Noblesville Council members to provide a responsible budget that maintains our city’s top priorities.”
The 2026 budget includes $114,036,614 in ongoing expenses and $5,224,434 in one-time expenses. In 2026, the city will not add new positions, unless previously planned, and employee compensation rates will be held flat in response to the new fiscal uncertainty caused by SEA 1.
The 2026 budget continues the city’s focus on safety, allocating 55 percent of the ongoing core operational budget to public safety – up from 52 percent in 2025 and the highest share in the past five years.
Wiles
“This budget is fiscally responsible and maintains Noblesville’s strong foundation while wisely preparing for the future,” Common Council President Megan Wiles said. “The council appreciates the hard work and cooperation between its members, Mayor Jensen, and city department directors to develop and approve a budget that continues to meet the needs of our growing community under the new fiscal constraints as a result of SEA 1.”
The city will complete or advance capital projects such as Reimagine Pleasant Street, a new police station, land acquisition for a new fire station, widening Olio Road, Embrace Downtown, the Nickel Plate Trail bridge, State Road 37 interchange improvements, and annual neighborhood street and sidewalk resurfacing and improvements.
Programs and capital projects cited in the city’s 10-year capital improvement plan that are deferred due to SEA 1 impacts include the Federal Hill Commons ice rink, quality of life and trail gap projects, intersection improvement projects, a dog park, and a new road salt barn. Additionally, the schedule for roadside and right-of-way mowing and landscaping will be scaled back.
The adopted budget also includes more than $700,000 in contribution increases to police and firefighter pension plans, based on a recent state mandate to increase the local contribution rate. The city will absorb that unfunded mandate by offsetting adjustments and continuing prudent management of funds in other contexts.
