Politics
Evansville City Council Approves 2027 Budget Ordinance, Residents to See Property Tax Adjustments by December 2026
The July 8 vote sets new funding levels for street maintenance and public safety that will appear on property tax statements mailed to Evansville households later this year.
How we reported this
The Evansville City Council on July 8 passed the fiscal year 2027 budget ordinance by a 6-3 vote, allocating $18.4 million to road resurfacing projects and $9.2 million to police overtime. The measure changes how property assessments are calculated for the next tax cycle, directly affecting bills issued by the Vanderburgh County Treasurer.
The vote occurred during the council's regular session at the Civic Center on Main Street, following a public hearing on June 24 that reviewed revenue projections from the county assessor’s office. Council members cited the need to cover increased costs for asphalt materials and overtime shifts that began rising in early 2026.
Timeline for Local Taxpayers
Property owners will first notice the changes when 2027 tax statements arrive in December 2026. The new rates apply to all parcels within city limits, including single-family homes in the West Side and commercial properties along the Lloyd Expressway. Renters may see indirect effects if landlords adjust lease amounts after the December statements are processed.
City budget documents show an average residential assessment increase of 3.8 percent, which translates to roughly $68 more per year for a home valued at $180,000. The ordinance also directs $1.1 million toward sidewalk repairs in the downtown grid, with work scheduled to begin in March 2027.
Service Delivery Changes
Police overtime funding will support additional patrols in the Haynie’s Corner district starting January 2027. Road crews will use the resurfacing allocation to repave 12 miles of streets, including sections of Weinbach Avenue and Covert Avenue, with contracts expected to be awarded by September 2026.
Payments under the revised budget will be collected through the existing two-installment schedule, with the first due in May 2027 and the second in November 2027. The county treasurer’s office will mail updated bills to all 48,700 parcels inside city boundaries by the first week of December 2026.
Further public meetings on implementation details are scheduled for August 12 and September 9 at the same Civic Center location, where residents can review final project lists before construction bids open.