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Oakland proposes 6.7 millage and $10.2 million tentative general fund for 2025‑26
Summary
At a June 24 work session the Town of Oakland commission reviewed a proposed FY2025‑26 tentative budget that holds the millage at 6.7 and sets a $10,224,624 general fund, while staff urged caution because rising insurance and fire‑rescue costs could reduce available reserves.
The Town of Oakland commission on June 24 reviewed a tentative fiscal year 2025‑26 budget that proposes keeping the town’s millage at 6.7 and sets a general fund of $10,224,624.
Town Manager Elise (Town Manager Elise) told commissioners the budget is preliminary and depends on several pending figures, including property and liability insurance and final health‑insurance rates. "There are still a bunch of numbers that we're missing," she said, adding that an audit presentation scheduled for July 22 will finalize some figures.
Staff said property values increased about 9%, which they estimated would add roughly $500,000 to baseline revenue, but cautioned that rising expenses—including Orange County Fire Rescue charges tied to property valuations and higher insurance costs—are consuming those gains. The draft budget assumes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees and a 2% increase to law‑enforcement retirement contributions to reach planned targets.
The tentative FY2025‑26 package presented for later formal action includes: a general fund of $10,224,624; a utility fund of $7,502,550; an impact‑fee budget of $5,095,392; and a tentative five‑year capital improvement plan. Staff recommended public hearings on the tentative millage and budget be held Monday, Sept. 8 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. to avoid conflicts with Orange County meetings.
Line‑item highlights in the draft include $30,000 for contracted grant‑writing services, $100,000 for street resurfacing, $150,000 to expand planning services, $300,000 for water‑meter replacements and a proposed $100,000 road‑resurfacing allocation targeted at Millholland and Trailside Station. Staff also removed an assistant town manager position to reduce costs and reallocated savings toward operational needs.
Commissioners pressed staff on reserves and carryover amounts. Finance staff said last year’s carryover that had been used to offset uncertainty in fire‑rescue costs was not included in the current draft; staff suggested preserving reserves unless a precise funding shortfall is identified. "We don't want to keep tapping into that," the finance lead said, noting roughly $2 million in reserves equates to only about two and a half months of operations.
The manager said the commission will be asked at a future regular meeting to adopt the tentative millage and budgets after the audit presentation narrows outstanding figures. The review is a work session only; no final action on the millage or budgets was taken that night.
