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Wasilla finance director outlines FY2026 budget proposal; sales tax remains main revenue source
Summary
Finance Director Cassie presented the City of Wasilla FY2026 proposed operating and capital budgets, emphasizing continued reliance on sales tax revenue, planned capital projects (airport, water, roads), a flat property mill rate, and total sources and uses.
The Wasilla City Council heard an overview April 28 of the proposed FY2026 operating and capital budgets from Finance Director Cassie. The presentation covered the general fund, special revenue funds, enterprise funds and the capital improvement plan, and indicated the city intends to keep the property mill rate at 0.
Cassie said total sources for FY2026 are roughly $49.3 million and total uses about $38.7 million, leaving a net source over uses of about $10.5 million that will be used for capital outlay and other fund balance needs. She said sales tax remains the city’s largest revenue source at approximately $27.3 million, or about 67.5 percent of operating revenue. User fees, intergovernmental revenues, local grants and other revenues were presented as additional components.
On expenditures Cassie said operating expenditures total about $38.7 million (not including transfers and capital project appropriations). Public safety accounts for the largest share of general fund operating costs (42.4 percent), followed by public works and culture/recreation. Personnel costs were shown to be roughly 74 percent of operating appropriations.
Cassie summarized the capital program breakdown by fund and noted the largest single capital area is the airport at roughly $31.9 million. Water and sewer capital were shown together at roughly $18.6 million, with specific water capital of about $14.1 million. Roads/right-of-way, parks, property maintenance and vehicle replacement are also included in the CIP.
She highlighted special revenue and enterprise fund details, including a youth court special revenue fund and four enterprise funds (water, sewer, airport, Menard Memorial Sports Center). Cassie said the enterprise funds include roughly $21.4 million in expenditures, of which $14.1 million is capital outlay.
Council members asked clarifying questions about timing and prior appropriations for water projects tied to the interconnect discussion; Cassie said some CIP appropriations exist for Herman Road storage and water main extension and that multiple years may be required depending on final designs and commodity costs. She asked council members to forward any budget amendments to staff so they could be drafted for review.
Ending: The ordinance to adopt the FY2026 budget will have a second public hearing the following night; the council and public will have further opportunities to review and propose amendments before final adoption.
