The City of Manitowoc’s 2026 budget has been approved.
It’s the second year in a row that the budget was approved without removing a proposal from Mayor Justin Nickels.
Some items include several major road projects, investments in Red Arrow Park, and consideration of future fire station consolidation.
Finance Committee Chairman and 6th District Alderman Eric Sitkiewitz called the 2026 budget a carry-over from last year that listens to council members’ priorities while keeping city services funded.
However, personnel costs will increase this year, specifically wages and benefits for police and fire union and non-union employees.
Sitkiewitz says while there are some increases, the money is going where it needs to, so the city can run.
“Would I like to be at a zero percent increase? Sure. Would I like to have to explain what services that we have to cut to get there? Absolutely not,” he explained. “So, I can defend this budget, I can support this budget, because it puts the right dollars into the right service, because I haven’t been told that we are providing to much service to the citizens of the City of Manitowoc.”
10th District Alderman Todd Reckelberg was the only council member who voted against approving the budget, saying he’s concerned about property values increasing on tax bills and a $616,000 increase in general fund debt.
But while he didn’t vote in favor it, he explained that the budget numbers seemed more realistic.
8th District Alderman Bill Schlei called the budget the one everyone wanted, but one that’s needed.
Mayor Nickels complimented the city’s committees for explaining the budget transparently, but challenges do lie ahead, including a possible deficit in the city’s general fund.
“Now it gets down to 17 if we spend every single dime, which we haven’t done in years past, which is why I’m confident in the way we’ve been running things that it definitely will not get there,” he noted. “But there are conversations we need to have in the upcoming years of where we need to start looking at departments and operations to make sure that we’re providing the same service but not wasting a single taxpayer dollar.”
Road projects in the 2026 City of Manitowoc budget include S 30th from Viebahn to Dewey Street, as well as Lancer’s Circle, and a design plan for continuing construction on Franklin Street.
City hall will also receive upgrades, including a phone system overhaul and new software for council meetings.
You can find Nickels’ presentation on the budget at manitowoc.granicus.com.
