(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council met Monday night as a committee of the whole to address the city’s budget for 2026.  Council members heard from various department heads about projected revenues and expenses for next year.  Mayor Ron Oler also provided an overview of the city’s goals.  "Our focus will be on people, places, and things with an eye first to public safety, then to infrastructure, and then to community services," Oler explained.  Oler said that property tax caps have prevented more than $120 million from entering city coffers over the last 15 years.  "But we have survived - mostly through staffing reductions, deferred building maintenance, and years of no pay increases to non-union civilian employees," he added.  Council will meet again Tuesday night beginning at 6:30 to continue to work on next year’s budget.