On Thursday, Roanoke will hold the second community meeting for residents to ask questions and learn about the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget.
The city held the first of the two meetings last Thursday evening at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke. Mayor Joe Cobb and council members Evelyn Powers, Nick Hagen and Phazhon Nash were in attendance, as well as former councilwoman Trish White-Boyd.
Trinity Kaseke, interim budget manager for the city, and Tanya Catron, interim retirement manager, presented slides highlighting key aspects of the proposed budget. Those who attended were provided notecards to write their questions on, which were answered by City Manager Valmarie Turner at the end of the presentation.
Turner said Roanoke does not usually hold these community meetings during the budget proposal period. This year, Turner has repeatedly told council and community members that the budget is especially tight, and the city is considering moves like a 1.5% increase in the meals tax and allocating a level budget to Roanoke City Public Schools, rather than a budget that would include appropriation from the city’s revenue increase.
The city manager is answering questions from council members weekly, and both questions and answers are posted on the city’s Budget Development page.
Thursday’s community meeting will be held at Pilgrim Baptist Church Family Life Center, starting at 7 p.m. The meeting can be streamed through Roanoke Valley Television for those unable to make it in person.
Up next on the city’s calendar regarding the proposed budget:
April 21: Public hearings on the recommended budget and tax rates, beginning at 7 p.m.
May 5: Budget Study at 9 a.m.
May 12: Special session held by Roanoke City Council at 2 p.m. to adopt ordinances and resolutions regarding the new budget
June 2025: The FY2026 Adopted Budget and Capital Improvement Program documents become available.
