Erie proposes a $190 million budget across 16 funds for 2027. The plan tightens spending as development revenue slows, adding two police officers and setting up discussions for a new road maintenance fee while limiting new municipal expenses.
Development revenue faces sharp drops. Permit and license revenue will fall 44%, from $3.23 million in the 2026 adopted budget to $1.81 million in 2027. Developer contributions for town infrastructure will decrease 35%, from $32.68 million to $21.10 million. In response, town staff trimmed original 2027 department operating requests by $3.5 million (8%) and capital improvement requests by 21%. Tax revenue, however, will rise 6% from $43.18 million to $45.85 million.
Staffing changes focus on public safety. Erie will add three net positions in 2027, down from nine in 2026. The town will hire two police officers and a wastewater manager, while eliminating three vacant positions in planning and IT. Outside contractors will handle select technology duties. General Fund police spending will increase 3.4% to $12.79 million.
Infrastructure and service budgets reflect shifting operational needs across departments. Following a 2026 feasibility study, staff will present a transportation fee proposal to the Town Council in early 2027 while advancing planned capital improvements along Erie Parkway, County Line Road, and 119th Street.
The fee has not been approved, and it is unclear how much residents would have to pay. If approved, the money would help maintain roads as Erie continues to grow.
Water Fund spending will drop 76% from $201.1 million to $48.7 million. This decrease reflects the completion of one-time construction costs for a new treatment facility rather than service cuts, with 2027 funds supporting storage tanks, pipelines, and the Northern Integrated Supply Project. Meanwhile, Parks and Recreation funding will fall 3.5% from $14.45 million to $13.95 million, though capital plans retain a potential expansion of the Erie Community Center.
The budget doesn’t specify whether the decrease in Parks and Recreation funding will affect existing programs or services. The community center expansion also depends on future funding decisions.
Town employees will see higher potential pay increases under the new proposal. The 2027 budget allocates up to 3% for merit-based raises, compared with a 2% limit in 2026, along with a 2% adjustment to keep salaries competitive.
Erie’s proposed 2027 budget focuses on maintaining essential services while preparing for slower growth and less revenue from development. The town plans to prioritize police staffing, limit other hiring and consider new ways to pay for road maintenance.
Residents will have a chance to share their thoughts before the budget is finalized. Town Council will hold public hearings on Oct. 27 and Nov. 10, with a final vote expected at the second meeting.
The Nov. 10 budget vote is also expected to be Mayor Andrew Moore’s final official act before resigning. Moore announced in September that he would step down immediately following adoption of the 2027 budget, at which point Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Bell will assume the mayor’s office.
As Erie continues to grow, these decisions will shape more than just the town’s finances. They’ll affect the roads residents drive, the parks families enjoy and the services people rely on every day. The challenge for town leaders will be meeting those needs while keeping Erie affordable for the people who call it home.
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