Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers (R-At-Large) is calling for steady leadership as the council prepares to vote on the city’s 2026 budget.
News release from Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers:
Chambers Urges Smart Planning, Not Performative Cuts, in 2026 Budget
Fort Wayne, Indiana (October 27, 2025) — Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers (At-Large) is calling for steady leadership as the council prepares to vote on the city’s 2026 budget.
“The Mayor’s proposal is already lean — it trims spending from 2025 while keeping every public-safety position intact. Even after using $8.8 million from reserves to balance the 2026 budget, Fort Wayne will still hold nearly $95 million in savings. That’s well above national best-practice levels and gives us the stability to plan ahead with confidence. That’s the kind of responsible, forward-thinking budgeting our residents expect steady, not reactionary, and focused on keeping Fort Wayne strong.”
“Fort Wayne is financially strong because we’ve made smart decisions,” Chambers said. “This budget is designed to manage the uncertainty of Senate Enrolled Act 1 without sacrificing the investments that keep our city growing.”
She cautioned against proposed council cuts to arts, trails, and riverfront projects, saying they “risk long-term progress for short-term optics.”
“We can stay lean without being shortsighted,” she said. “Budgets are moral documents they show what we value. I value keeping our promises, protecting neighborhoods, and planning smart for the future.”
City Council is expected to vote on the final 2026 budget Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Citizens Square.
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