Wellington presents draft FY2026 budget; trustees debate home rule, discretionary spending and park cuts

Patty Garcia, town administrator, presented the Town of Wellington draft fiscal year 2026 budget at the Oct. 14 Board of Trustees meeting, summarizing updated operational and capital requests, projected revenues and estimated fund balances.

The draft reduces operational expenditure requests from an initial $17.5 million and, after additional refinements totaling about $860,000, shows a 9% year-over-year decrease across all funds. Staff said overall revenue in the general fund is projected to fall about 4.4% (excluding transfers and grants) because of lower permit-related income and an anticipated drop in building permits to about 38 residential permits in 2026. Across all funds, revenues (excluding grants and loans) are projected to be more than 18% lower, staff said.

Town finance staff described specific reductions: the general fund’s requested operating expenditures were cut by about 7.1% from the initial presentation; capital requests were delayed or reduced (including postponing funding for a Public Works and Parks Administration Facility, a Cemetery Mapping Project, and the Strategic Property and Grant Acquisition Fund); and water and sewer capital schedules were spread over multiple years with some purchases delayed. Staff also said the LCSO (Larimer County Sheriff’s Office) contract as submitted…