Wendell holds public hearing on $58.6 million FY2025–26 budget; board approves bond resolution and brownfield task orders

The Wendell Town Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget at its May meeting and approved a resolution to issue general obligation bonds and two Brownfield task orders tied to local redevelopment projects.

Town Manager Tyler Collins, who serves as the town’s budget officer, presented the proposed all-funds total of $58,586,493 and described the proposal as a balanced budget prepared under state statute. “The total budget this year, $58,586,493,” Collins said during his presentation, and he told commissioners the plan maintains “a flat property tax” at 42¢ per $100 valuation.

The budget document includes a larger capital program and several new funds, Collins said, and proposes seven new positions that would increase full-time equivalents from 92 to 99. The presentation also showed a one‑year capital project list, a five‑year capital plan of about $121 million and a planned general obligation borrowing consistent with a voter-approved bond referendum. Collins said the budget appropriates loan proceeds for capital and recommends no new fund-balance appropriation for FY2026.

Why it matters: The proposed budget funds police traffic unit additions, sidewalk and streetscape work, multiple parks and greenway projects, design and first-year construction for a 5-field athletic complex, and other multi‑year capital efforts tied to a November 2023 voter referendum approving parks/recreation and transportation bonds. Collins told the board that, by statute, the town could not adopt the budget at the hearing but could act at its next meeting on May 27.

The board took three formal actions later in the meeting. It adopted a resolution making findings and determinations related to issuing general obligation bonds, including a not-to-exceed provision of $22,500,000 and staff’s request that the Local Government Commission consider a private sale to Webster Bank without a national rating. The resolution passed on a voice vote with the board answering “Aye” when the mayor called for approval.

The board also approved two task orders under the town’s Brownfield program with GeoCentek. Task order 19 covers additional environmental record review for the Pleasant Grove redevelopment project (the former school at 948 Morphis Bridge Road, which is being converted to a community center) and is capped at $30,000. Task order 20 continues work related to the former gas station near the Wendell Falls Parkway and Eagle Rock Road intersection; that task order is capped at $14,007.40. The approvals were made by motion and voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution: “Findings and determinations related to general obligation bonds” — motion adopted; not-to-exceed amount in resolution: $22,500,000; next administrative step: Local Government Commission consideration (LGC meeting referenced for June 3). Sale method discussed: private sale to Webster Bank without national rating. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Task Orders 19 & 20 (GeoCentek) — Task Order 19 (Pleasant Grove environmental record review): up to $30,000; Task Order 20 (Wendell Falls Pkwy/Eagle Rock Rd former gas station assessment): up to $14,007.40. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Budget highlights and timing

- No change to the property tax rate: 42¢ per $100 valuation, according to Collins. No new change to routine service rates (stormwater, solid waste) was proposed in this draft.

- Proposed additions: seven positions (net increase from 92 to 99 FTEs) and three reclassifications; expansion of the police traffic unit (one sergeant and two officers) was described as part of service-level maintenance.

- Capital: Year‑1 capital budget and a five‑year capital plan were presented. Projects mentioned in FY2026 year‑one include design for a new recreation center; first-year construction for the Wendell Athletic Field Complex (five fields); Buffalo Creek Greenway Phase 1 trailhead; Carver Community Center construction; downtown streetscape phase 1 targeted at Pine Street; and intersection work including signalization at Wendell Boulevard and Wendell Falls Parkway.

- Long lead items: Collins and other commissioners noted planning for a skate/bike park and splash pad appears in later years of the five‑year plan (fiscal year 2029–30 on the plan shown to the board). The manager and commissioners encouraged the public to review the budget detail available online.

Next steps

Collins said the board may act on the budget ordinance, tax levy, fee schedule and pay‑and‑classification plan at its May 27 meeting. The Local Government Commission will consider the bond issuance next on its June 3 agenda, per staff comments.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are identified in the meeting record.