Weston tentatively adopts 3.3464‑mill rate amid debate over $50M park project

The City of Weston Commission on Sept. 15 tentatively adopted a proposed millage rate of 3.3464 mills to fund the fiscal year 2026 budget, setting a second public hearing for Sept. 29 to consider final adoption. The vote was unanimous.

City Manager Don Decker and staff presented the tentative all‑fund expenditure budget of $256,117,400, a 30.74% increase over the adopted FY2025 budget that staff said is driven largely by one‑time capital projects, notably the Vista Park Phase 2 package and a regional park maintenance‑yard relocation. The proposed millage of 3.3464 mills represents a 6.73% increase compared with the computed rollback rate of 3.1353 mills, as required by state statute.

Daryl Thomas, assistant city manager and chief financial officer, outlined where the increases come from and the city’s approach to financing. He said the FY2026 general fund tentative budget is $69,943,800 and that the city expects to use $3,500,000 in reserves to balance the general fund for the year. On the potential debt impact of the Vista Park project, Thomas said a 20‑year financing scenario would equate to roughly $144 a year on a declining scale for the median single‑family home; stretched to 30 years that figure drops to about $115 annually, also on a declining scale. "At 20 years it was gonna be about $4,000,000 which would be about $144 a year on a declining scale for a single median single family home," Thomas said.

Residents attending the hearing pressed elected officials on the difference between the city’s stable millage rate and rising property tax bills, which they attributed to increasing assessed values. Fred Burton, a longtime Weston resident, urged the commission to accept the rollback rate and defer discretionary capital, saying, "The prudent thing to do would be to accept the rollback rate and lower the millage rates." Other residents described fixed‑income hardship and urged commissioners to remove or delay the large capital projects.

Commissioners acknowledged those concerns while defending the proposed spending and service levels. Vice Mayor Henry Mead said the administration had worked to hold service levels steady amid rising costs, noting public safety contract increases as a primary driver. "We can lower the service or we can keep the service the same. It hasn't increased — it stayed the same, but it's increased substantially," Mead said, referring to higher contract costs.

The commission moved and seconded the tentative millage (mover: Commissioner Mary Melina McPhee; second: Commissioner Byron Jaffe). The clerk recorded a unanimous roll call vote. Mayor Margaret Brown reminded residents that the commission will hold a second public hearing on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., in person and virtually, to consider final adoption.

What’s next: Staff said more detailed cost‑benefit information and debt impact analyses will be provided to the commission and public prior to the Sept. 29 hearing.