With many Indiana communities facing what Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness described as “dire shape” while crafting their 2026 budgets under new state legislative constraints, the mayor painted a much brighter picture for Fishers.

Fadness unveiled his proposed 2026 spending plan Monday night, calling for total expenditures of $203.6 million across operating, capital, and debt service funds. The plan projects nearly $67 million in cash reserves. By comparison, the city’s 2025 budget totaled $182.5 million. Fadness noted that year-to-year fluctuations in spending are normal, depending on specific needs such as major road projects.

“You should feel confident and reassured that the City of Fishers is in very sound fiscal shape,” Fadness told Council members. “We’re able to meet our community’s needs. We’re able to push forward and continue to really, truly create a desirable community today, tomorrow, and well into the future.”

I have been covering details of the 2026 budget over the past several days and recorded a podcast with Fadness and Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren last Thursday. You can listen to that conversation at this link.

The mayor also outlined proposed funding for local nonprofits. In recent years, the City Council appointed a committee to determine allocations, but that responsibility now rests with the mayor. Fadness’s 2026 plan directs $275,000 to nonprofits, including $165,000 for Fishers Youth Initiative, $75,000 for Conner Prairie, and $35,000 for Cherish Center.

With the presentation and public hearing now complete, the City Council is scheduled a final vote on the 2026 budget at its October 6 meeting.