Mayor Farrell unveils $87 million FY27 budget, warns of big long‑term liabilities and leans on grants for water projects

Mayor Farrell presented the Huntington City Council with a proposed FY27 budget he called "a balance and disciplined budget about $87,000,000 with conservative revenue estimates," saying the plan focuses on three priorities: public safety, building infrastructure and growing the economy.

The mayor told the council the increase from last year’s $78 million budget is driven mainly by grant pass‑throughs, including funds routed through the Water Quality Board and EPA SRF programs, and he emphasized a conservative approach to forecasting. "A budget is simply our best idea of what might happen next year as far as collections of tax revenues," Farrell said.

Why it matters: the plan preserves services while trying to build financial resiliency, but the administration faces large, existing obligations that constrain flexibility. Farrell outlined nearly $200 million in combined long‑term liabilities for a closed pension plan (~$100,000,000) and other post‑employment benefits (~$92,000,000), plus an estimated $30,000,000 environmental liability to cap the Deetz (Deeds/Deetz) Hollow landfill. Separately, the Water Quality Board’s wastewater program represents roughly…