Annual Meeting & Budget Overview
The City and EWSD Annual Meeting (election) is Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 7 am to 7 pm at the Champlain Valley Exposition in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction.
The City of Essex Junction is working on the Fiscal Year (FY) 27 General Fund budget. The City Council encourages community members to participate actively in the budget process leading up to the City Council’s final budget approval on February 25, 2026. Once the budget is passed by the City Council, residents will see it on the Annual Meeting ballot on April 14, 2026.
The budget preparation process began in June 2025 at the City Council Retreat, where the Council and Department Heads reviewed progress on the strategic plan, outlined action items for the upcoming fiscal year, and established strategic priorities for fiscal year 2027. Following the City Council’s priority-setting, the Department Heads developed their respective budgets and work plans. Collaboratively with the Finance Director, the City Manager prepared the proposed FY27 budget, which will be presented to the City Council on their annual Budget Day, held on December 5th this year. Both the proposed FY27 General Fund and preliminary Enterprise Fund budgets will be presented.
As the City Council works on the budget, they would appreciate resident input. Budget discussions will be held during City Council meetings scheduled for January 21, January 28, and February 11. These meetings will take place at the City Offices located at 2 Lincoln Street and will also be available virtually. View the Annual Meeting & Budget Timeline for meeting packets and other important dates.
Save the Date: Community Meal
The City will host a Community Meal and Budget Discussion event on Saturday, January 31, 2026. This event not only provides a free meal to attendees but also offers residents a unique opportunity to engage directly with City departments, learn about the FY27 budget, and address any questions they may have. More details about the Community Meal will be released as the date approaches.