City of Norfolk’s FY 2026 Budget Adopted

NORFOLK, Va. - On Tuesday, May 13, Norfolk City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The $1.98 billion financial plan aligns with City Council priorities, reflects input gathered from residents through the 2024 resident survey along with other outreach tools, maintains the City's responsiveness to community and infrastructure needs and focuses on long-term financial stability.

The budget includes: $1.56 billion in funds for the operating budget, $260 million in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds, $6.7 million in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement grants and nearly $141 million in anticipated grant funding.

Key investments include:

• $3.2 million and 28 new full-time employees in the operating budget and $44 million in the FY 2026 CIP for community safety and health, including new paramedics, police vehicles and the replacement of Fire Station 9
• $524,740 and one new full-time employee in the operating budget and $23.2 million in the FY 2026 CIP for transportation safety and maintenance, including traffic signal upgrades and street improvements
• $7.8 million and 13 full-time employees in the operating budget and $115.2 million in the FY 2026 CIP for maintenance and cleanliness of public facilities, spaces and infrastructure
• $7.6 million in housing investments, and an expanded scope of the Inclusive Development Opportunity Reserve to include housing investments
• 2.5% general wage increase for general, constitutional and nonsworn employees, and step increases for sworn Public Safety employees and 911 telecommunicators effective July 1, 2025
• Phased implementation of a new step and grade compensation plan to enhance employee recruitment and retention, starting in October 2025 for sworn employees and January 2026 for general employees

The FY 2026 budget also includes:

• Two-hour free parking in all downtown parking garages
• $3.4 million and 13 new full-time employees in the operating budget and $45.2 million in the FY 2026 CIP for the expansion of tourism and Norfolk's visitor economy including investments in the Zoo, Chrysler Hall and Scope, and enhanced public events
• Dedicated funding for sand replenishment
• $3.5 million more in local funding for Norfolk Public Schools, for a total of $450.3 million in local funding

For more information on the budget, visit the Citizen Cents webpage or the Department of Budget and Strategic Planning's webpage.