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Wendell board adopts $58.6 million budget, keeps property tax rate at 42¢
Summary
The Wendell Town Board approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget package including the budget document, budget ordinance, capital project ordinances, fee schedule (with a scrivener’s correction) and pay plan. No change to the property tax rate was made.
Wendell — The Wendell Town Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted the town’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget package, approving the budget document and associated ordinances and pay plan while holding the town’s property tax rate at 42¢ per $100 of assessed value.
Town staff said the total budget presented is $58,557,193 with a net recommended budget of $54,576,062 after transfers. The board approved the general fund capital project ordinance, the utility capital project ordinance, the fee schedule (with a scrivener’s correction to one administrative trade permit fee from $95 to $30), and the FY26 pay plan. The board’s votes were unanimous.
The town manager told the board that the small change of $29,300 from the earlier presentation resulted from updated compensation and software cost figures and corresponding adjustments in debt service transfers. Staff highlighted that no increase to the property tax rate or major fee changes were proposed. The general fund total shown in the adopted package is $24,561,474; the capital fund total is approximately $31,000,000; debt service near $1.9 million; stormwater about $950,000; and a capital utility fund appropriation of $100,000, all reflected in the budget documents.
The manager also said the pay-and-class study’s implementation is funded in the plan; benefits remain above-market and premium increases are covered by the town, so employees do not incur higher premium costs this year. The board discussed the budget process and thanked staff for months of work. Commissioners emphasized the budget’s role in funding ongoing capital projects, pointing to the Main Street Greenway project that will add about 3,200 feet of 12-foot paved trail linking downtown with other town destinations.
The board’s motion bundled six formal approvals: adopting the FY26 budget document, adopting the FY26 budget ordinance, approving the general fund capital project ordinance, approving the utility capital project ordinance, approving the FY26 fee schedule (acknowledging the $95→$30 correction), and approving the FY26 pay plan. The motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.
Board members and staff noted the months of departmental and board engagement that led to the document and encouraged the public to review the full 441‑page budget packet at town facilities for project details and timelines.
