LEWISTON — Lewiston city councilors delayed a vote on a 2027 city budget by two weeks Tuesday after realizing they must come up with a budget that passes with a supermajority or risk more cuts to the budget.

Councilors learned Tuesday that under the city’s charter, they can’t approve a tax levy for the 2027 budget year that exceeds the current one by more than the Consumer Price Index, which is 3.3%, without a supermajority of the council in favor. A supermajority is five of the council’s seven members.

The proposed 2027 tax levy needed to support the proposed city budget, city debt service, and county and school budgets now stands at 8.1% higher than 2026’s tax burden.

If the council can’t gather at least five votes for a new budget, which has seemed in doubt based on recent budget workshops, City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath told the council the proposed overall tax burden will need to be trimmed to no greater than a 3.3% increase.

That 4.8% difference is more than $3 million.

Kaenrath told the council Tuesday that such a cut to the city budget could mean as many as 25 city positions being eliminated, far more than the eight positions the council was previously considering.

However, he came up with the estimate on the spot before councilors came to a consensus to use $1.9 million from the city’s savings account.

After applying the $1.9 million in fund balance, city officials said Kaenrath would be required to cut from city expenses over $1 million to stay within a 3.3% increase.

The council was expected to vote on the budget next Tuesday, May 5. It is now scheduled for Thursday, May 14.

The council’s next budget workshop is Thursday.