Bowling Green City Commission approves 2026 city budget

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green city government had its last Board of Commissioners meeting for the fiscal year this week, with the budget being approved.

Bowling Green city manager Jeff Maisel says, “So for the F 26 budget that we just received, second reading on for general fund, we’re looking at just under $117 million for general fund, and that’s a balanced budget revenues, equal expenditures. And then for all funds, we’re looking at just under $189 million. It’s the biggest budget in city history. As the population grows, so does the need for adequate services.”

Maisel says he remembers when the budget was just between $30 million and $40 million, but now, there’s a lot more happening in Bowling Green, so 22 new positions were added, 11 of which are in public safety, police and fire to cover for future growth with the demand for services.

He says the city is at a great low point, which has allowed in recent months for more investment in quality of life, such as turf fields at the soccer park on Lover’s Lane, as well as two additional artificial turf fields at Preston Miller Park.

Maisel says they are also putting more funding into Riverfront Park for phases two and three.

Most of the budget goes to personnel, something Maisel says is paramount to city success.

Sixty to sixty-five percent of the money is going toward city employees, with public safety as a number one priority.

News 40 will continue to provide updates on the City of Bowling Green as more information is released.