Milton council adopts $64 million citywide budget for fiscal 2026

The Milton City Council on Sept. 15 adopted the city's fiscal year 2026 budget, approving a citywide spending plan that staffs described as approximately $64 million and covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill presented the budget and answered questions before the council voted to approve the ordinance.

Harvill said the proposed budget consolidates the general fund, five special revenue funds and six capital projects funds and forecasts overall revenues of $49,782,134. "The overall revenue forecast equals $49,782,134 with ongoing revenues increasing by 1,600,000.0 or 3.3 percent," Harvill said during the public hearing presentation.

The budget includes a requested 4.1% market adjustment to salaries, reflected in total salary-related costs of $794,893 across all staff, of which $664,873 is attributed to salaries and wages. Harvill said that when contingency and new initiatives are included, the year-over-year variance is $1,299,179, or 3.5%.

Harvill outlined three new positions that, if the budget is approved, are scheduled to begin Oct. 1. She said two of the positions are in information services and are expected to reduce the cost of the city's managed services contract, producing an overall cost savings in fiscal 2026.

The presentation noted a projected final general fund balance of $12,832,945, which Harvill said aligns with the city's reserve policy of 25% of the following year's revenues. Harvill also reviewed special revenue funds and capital plans, including anticipated hotel-motel transfers to a renamed City Events Fund and carryovers for multi-year capital projects. "All capital projects funds are budgeted on a project linked basis, and any unspent funds will carry over into the next fiscal year as part of the city's capital improvement plan," Harvill said.

Mayor Payton Jamieson and other councilors praised the staff presentation. After the public hearing concluded with no public speakers, Councilor Jan Jacobus moved to approve the fiscal 2026 budget ordinance and Councilor Berhoff seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Discussion only: Harvill's presentation included revenue and expenditure projections, planned staffing changes, and carryover treatment for capital projects. Direction/assignment: none beyond the standard adoption of the budget ordinance. Formal action: adoption of the fiscal year 2026 budget by vote.

Details presented by staff included the adopted millage rate of 4.193 mills for property-related projections, a general fund revenue forecast of $49,782,134, a citywide budget figure of approximately $64,000,000, and a projected ending fund balance of $12,832,945. The staff presentation also listed multiple planning documents that inform spending requests, including the five-year strategic plan and the comprehensive plan.

The council will implement the approved budget beginning Oct. 1, 2025; staff noted capital project carryovers will be handled in future fiscal-year accounting as projects progress.