HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Hopewell leaders unveiled their just over $71 million budget proposal for the next fiscal year on Tuesday. During a Hopewell City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 24, officials discussed the city's proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which will begin in mid-2026. Thi s budget amounts to $71.18 million in spending across a variety of city departments -- a less than 1% increase over the previous fiscal year. The city highlighted several items in the proposal, including a 2% cost of living increase for employees across the board and a step increase for members of both the Hopewell Police Department and the Hopewell Fire EMS. Additionally, the proposal accounts for an increase in employee health insurance premiums. City councilors voted Tuesday night to split this increase with employees by paying about $293,000. Hopewell's police force has the largest budget allotment, with just over $12 million in expected costs. The fire department is not far behind at $8.1 million. Hopewell's Department of Public Works comes in third place at $6.65 million. This proposal still has to be formally approved by the Hopewell City Council. You can find the full budget presentation shared by officials Tuesday night here on pages 216 through 260. ...read more read less