If you have ever driven around a torn-up street or waited for a new sidewalk to reach your block, the city budget is where those projects begin.

This month, Fort Wayne's 2027 spending plan is moving through its final stretch of review at City Hall.

Here is what residents should know before the City Council casts its vote.

The numbers at a glance

Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Controller Pat Roller unveiled the proposal in mid-September, setting the property tax-supported operating budget at $257.7 million.

That is an increase of 2.9 percent, or about $7.2 million, over the current year's Civil City budget.

City officials say the plan stays within the tax levy Indiana law allows.

They also point to a strong financial position, with enough cash reserves on hand and extra money above that cushion going toward additional street and sidewalk work.

Assessed property values and local income tax revenue are still climbing, the city says, although growth in assessed values has slowed.

Where the money would go

The largest piece is $42 million for neighborhood infrastructure, led by the Public Works Division.

That includes $31.9 million for streets, roads and neighborhoods, plus $6.7 million for sidewalks and alleys.

Another $1.3 million is set aside for bridges, and $2.1 million for trails.

The city says projects are planned across all six council districts and all four quadrants of town.

Parks and Recreation would receive $4.3 million for capital projects at city parks.

Taken together, the plan keeps its focus on everyday basics, such as smoother roads, safer sidewalks and well-kept parks.

Public safety staffing holds steady in the proposal.

The police department would hold its 71st recruit class and keep its budgeted strength at 510 officers.

The fire department would hold its 100th recruit class and maintain 375 firefighters.

Community Development, meanwhile, plans to keep its focus on neighborhoods, connectivity, housing, safety and economic growth.

A cautious look ahead

Even as city leaders describe Fort Wayne's finances as sound, Tucker has been candid that state law changes will weigh on city revenue over the next several years.

Those changes, including Senate Bill 1, are still being phased in, which makes future budgets harder to predict.

That uncertainty is the real backdrop for this year's debate.

Last year offers a useful preview of how that debate can unfold.

In late October 2025, council trimmed more than $8.6 million from the mayor's 2026 proposal before passing the budget.

Some members argued the cuts were needed to balance the books, while others called them shortsighted.

What happens next

Council members have been reviewing the 2027 plan since mid-September, and the city's major divisions presented their spending plans earlier this month.

Final passage is expected later in October, according to local reports.

Council typically meets on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. at Citizens Square, 200 E. Berry St.

The city's online calendar lists a regular council meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 20, but the exact date of the final budget vote was not confirmed, so check the posted agenda before you go.

The full proposed budget and division-by-division details are available on the City of Fort Wayne's website.

Residents who want to follow along can watch the budget's progress through council agendas and the city's budget pages.

If a street, sidewalk or trail near you is on your wish list, now is the time to find out whether it made the plan.

Whatever council decides, the budget will shape what gets built, paved and staffed across Fort Wayne in 2027.