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Milan council reviews options to fund FY27 fire budget; staff propose ballot measure or 2‑mill special assessment
Summary
Fire Chief DJ Carpus outlined the department's budget needs at the March 17 council meeting. City Administrator Jim Lancaster presented two funding options — a ballot proposal or a 2‑mill special assessment — and the council took no formal vote, leaving next steps for future meetings.
At its March 17 meeting the Milan City Council heard a presentation from Fire Chief DJ Carpus on the current status and needs of the fire department budget for fiscal year 2027. City Administrator Jim Lancaster told the council staff had identified two possible ways to increase funding for public safety: placing a proposal on a future ballot or using a special assessment that would levy taxes at 2 mills.
Chief Carpus described the department’s needs and current budget pressures; Lancaster framed the two funding routes as the primary options under consideration but did not present a staff recommendation to adopt either option at this meeting. Council members did not take formal action; the discussion remained at an informational stage and council members were asked to review the options ahead of further consideration.
The presentation did not include an adopted timeline, estimated revenue totals tied to the ballot measure, or additional alternatives such as reallocations from the general fund. Those quantitative clarifications were not specified in the meeting record and would need to be provided before the council could compare financial impacts. The council did not vote on a funding mechanism during the March 17 meeting.
Next steps: staff will return with further information for council consideration; no ballot placement or assessment was authorized at this meeting.
