Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wellington council adopts tentative FY2026 budget, holds millage at 2.47 mills
Summary
At a Sept. 3 meeting the Wellington Village Council approved a tentative $155.9 million fiscal 2026 budget and kept the ad valorem millage at 2.47 mills. Council set a second public hearing for final adoption; staff and council highlighted capital projects, public safety investments and a $20 million unassigned fund balance.
Wellington Village Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 3 to adopt a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget of $155,900,000 and to keep the ad valorem millage rate at 2.47 mills, city staff said during a first public hearing.
The proposed budget, presented by Ms. Quirkle, a village budget presenter, shows a $6.9 million (4.7%) increase from the current year driven largely by capital improvements, enhanced public safety and resident programs. Ms. Quirkle told the council the proposed ad valorem revenue using the 2.47 millage rate is $31,000,000 and that the village’s unassigned general fund balance is projected at $20,000,000, about 28% of operating expenditures.
Why it matters: the council’s tentative adoption sets Wellington’s spending plan for public safety, utilities, parks and capital projects while keeping the millage unchanged. Final adoption is scheduled for a second public hearing on Sept. 18.
Key figures and trade-offs - Total proposed budget: $155,900,000. - Proposed millage rate: 2.47 mills (no change). Staff said the 2.47 mills is the 17‑year average for Wellington. - Ad valorem revenue at that rate: approximately $31,000,000 (an increase of about $1,770,000 versus the prior year, per staff). - Tentative unassigned general fund balance: $20,000,000 (~28% of operating expenditures).
Ms. Quirkle summarized revenue by category and described the village’s fiscal priorities: neighborhood renaissance, economic development, protecting infrastructure, responsive government and environmental stewardship. She said charges for services (water/wastewater, recreation) are the leading revenue source and ad valorem taxes are second, and that ad valorem taxes represent roughly 44% of general fund revenues for FY2026.
Council members emphasized core priorities. One councilmember said the budget “doubles down” on public safety, education support and parks and recreation, pointing to investments such as the PBSO substation and a new pool. Another member noted the millage is at the village average and highlighted the village’s reserve level as evidence of fiscal stability.
Public comment and local impacts Resident Rick Christmas spoke during the hearing in support of current services and asked that the council consider multimodal connectivity and shade at parks such as Pearson Park. The mayor and staff replied that rights-of-way and property ownership complicate adding pathways and that staff would follow up on shade and access questions.
Next steps The council adopted the tentative budget and capital improvement plan and scheduled a second and final public hearing for Sept. 18. Any awarded grants not yet incorporated will be added by budget amendment once agreements are finalized, staff said.
Ending: Council vote and adoption of a final budget and millage rate remain subject to the second public hearing. Staff said they will return to council with any grant agreements and proposed budget amendments when those documents are complete.
