Wilmington mayor unveils $201 million FY2026 budget, proposes EMS shift to fire department and targeted tax relief

Mayor John Carney presented Wilmington City’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on March 20, proposing a $201,000,000 general fund that the administration says is revenue-neutral on property tax after a county reassessment and that shifts emergency medical services into the Fire Department.

The proposal, delivered to the Wilmington City Council by Mayor John Carney, would hold property tax revenues flat by lowering the city tax rate to account for newly reassessed values while offering a one-year, one-time tax-assistance program the administration is still designing. "I made it a priority to balance our budget without seeking additional property tax revenues with the recent reassessment," Carney said.

The mayor told the council the budget includes a modest 4% increase in the general fund overall and allocates $4,000,000 to launch an ambulance service under the Fire Department after the city’s third-party provider informed the city it could no longer meet needs. "The new service will cost $4,000,000 to get started," Carney said, adding that future years would be offset in part by ambulance-fee revenue from insurers, Medicare and Medicaid.

Why it matters: The package combines near-term steps to maintain tax neutrality with new operational investments that could change how emergency medical services are delivered and funded in Wilmington. The council received the mayor’s budget documents and the administration introduced several related ordinances for committee review.

Key budget components and program changes - General fund proposed: $201,000,000 (about a 4% increase from the prior year). - EMS: $4,000,000 startup to place ambulance services in the Fire Department after Saint Francis said it could no longer provide city ambulance services. - Utilities: The mayor’s budget incorporates a lower increase than the utilities advisory board recommended — the administration proposes a 6.5% increase to water and sewer rates and a 6% increase to stormwater rates; the council formally introduced an ordinance on utility rates for committee review. - Parks and recreation: $4,000,000 requested for parks capital improvements (Canby Park, Barbara Hicks, Helen Chambers, Helen Chambers Park, Judy Johnson, Eastlake Park, and others) and a master plan for Brown, Burton and Winchester Park. - Neighborhood stabilization: $2,500,000 for housing stock renovation and a pilot for alley cleanup and tree removal. - Workforce and operations: $3,200,000 in proposed wage increases for city employees, $1,200,000 to cover a mandated position review process, and $1,800,000 for rising health-care costs. - Public safety technology and programs: $115,000 to continue a license-plate recognition program previously funded by the American Rescue Plan and $158,000 to expand summer youth worker positions and related supervision.

Council action: ordinances introduced and referred to committee At the meeting, council members formally introduced a set of ordinances that implement or relate to the mayor’s budget proposals. Council members moved and seconded first and second readings and referred each ordinance to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for further review. The items introduced were: Ordinance 25-006 (property tax rate for FY2026), Ordinance 25-007 (six-year capital program, FY2026–2031), Ordinance 25-008 (capital budget FY2026), Ordinance 25-009 (annual operating budget FY2026), and Ordinance 25-010 (amendments to Chapter 45 for water, sewer and stormwater rates and charges for FY2026). Each ordinance was presented by Councilwoman Harley and referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee; no final votes on adoption were taken at the March 20 session.

Public safety and violence prevention Carney highlighted recent declines in shootings but emphasized the work ahead: "One shooting in our city is one shooting too many," he said, referencing an investigation into the recent homicide of a 16-year-old. The mayor announced continued investments in recruitment and training for the Police Department, including a new agreement for dedicated police training space.

Housing, homelessness and neighborhood investment The mayor said homelessness is rising and announced he would sign an executive order after the meeting to create a task force to recommend city actions on homelessness. He also proposed $2,500,000 for neighborhood stabilization, aimed at renovating aging homes and a pilot program for alley cleanup and tree removal.

Public comment and resident concerns Two residents spoke during the public-comment period. Dora Williams, an environmental-justice advocate, spoke generally about environmental justice impacts across city neighborhoods. April Taylor, who identified herself as a Walnut Street resident, asked for better advance notice when sewer work is scheduled in neighborhoods after a contractor worked overnight on Walnut Street and shut water to homes without prior notice; she said work continued until about 3:15 a.m. and that many residents (including seniors and parents) were left without water and sleep. "What the residents are asking is that the city... give us a notice," Taylor said.

Context and next steps The mayor emphasized that the city must adapt to declining federal and state emergency infusions and the effects of a countywide property reassessment. The administration said it will present details of the tax-assistance plan in coming weeks. The ordinances introduced at this meeting were referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for hearings; the council also announced upcoming public budget hearings for resident comment.

Ending Council President Trippie Congo recessed the meeting for a short presentation and the council returned to regular business after the mayor’s address. The council set the introduced ordinances for committee review rather than taking final votes at the March 20 session.