Sebastian advisory committee elects Hall chair, approves FY2025–26 budget calendar; introduces new finance director

The Sebastian Budget Review Advisory Committee elected Harry Hall as chair, selected Grace Reed as vice chair and approved the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget calendar at a regularly scheduled meeting of the committee.

Committee members heard an introduction of Brian Stewart, the city’s newly hired chief financial officer, and staff described a calendar that places recommended capital improvement (CIP) and operating budget documents in committee members’ hands in early July and the council’s final public hearing, millage and budget adoption in late September.

The calendar matters because it sets the advisory board’s review milestones and the city’s internal deadlines for departments submitting CIP and operating requests. Staff told the committee they expect the city to receive certified…