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Sparta council adopts FY2026 budget, revises WWTP debt rates and approves local measures
Summary
The Sparta Village Council unanimously adopted the FY2026 budget, CIP and millage levy and approved revisions to monthly wastewater debt service rates. The council also approved several resolutions and an ordinance amendment; meeting schedules were adjusted over a 5-1 vote on two items.
The Sparta Village Council on Dec. 15, 2025 adopted its FY2026 budget, Capital Improvement Plan and millage levy and approved a set of related local measures, including a revision to monthly wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) debt service rates.
The action on the FY2026 budget (Resolution 25-21) was moved by Council Member Brenda Braybrook and supported by Council Member David Cumings; the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Council also approved Resolution 25-22 to revise monthly WWTP debt rates (moved by Robert Carlstrom; supported by Bill Taylor), and approved amendments to the FY2025 budget (Res. 25-23). The council approved Ordinance 25-04 amending definitions and permitted uses in multiple zoning code sections and authorized an engineering proposal for the Balyeat Bridge project. Two schedule items — Res. 25-19 (Council meeting schedule) and Res. 25-20 (Planning Commission schedule) — were both approved on 5-1 votes with Village President Robert Whalen recorded in opposition to the time change to 6:30 p.m.
Why it matters: Adoption of the budget and CIP establishes Sparta’s planned spending and capital priorities for 2026 and sets the millage levy that supports general fund services. Revising WWTP debt service rates affects monthly utility charges that help repay wastewater project borrowing and can influence residential and commercial utility bills.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the minutes): - Res. 25-21, Adoption of FY2026 Budget, CIP & Millage Levy — Motion: Braybrook; Support: Cumings; Outcome: approved 6-0. - Res. 25-22, Revising Monthly WWTP Debt Rates — Motion: Carlstrom; Support: Taylor; Outcome: approved 6-0. - Res. 25-23, Amendments to FY2025 Budget — Motion: Cumings; Support: Braybrook; Outcome: approved 6-0. - Res. 25-19, 2026 Regular Village Council Meeting Schedule (change to 6:30 p.m.) — Motion: Taylor; Support: Carlstrom; Outcome: approved 5-1 (Whalen opposed). - Res. 25-20, 2026 Regular Planning Commission Schedule (change to 6:30 p.m.) — Motion: Carlstrom; Support: Peoples; Outcome: approved 5-1 (Whalen opposed). - Ord. 25-04, Amendments to zoning definitions and permitted uses — Motion: Cumings; Support: Braybrook; Outcome: approved 6-0. - Engineering proposal — Balyeat Bridge — Motion: Braybrook; Support: Peoples; Outcome: approved 6-0.
Finance details included in the minutes: November payables approved totaled $1,094,453.67 across funds (General Fund $720,522.13; Sewer Department Fund $237,018.54; Water Department Fund $53,877.00; Equipment Rental Fund $29,060.11). Council approved the payables on a motion by Tom Peoples, supported by Bill Taylor (motion passed 6-0).
What’s next: The budget and CIP take effect per the adopted resolutions. The minutes record approvals and public hearings but do not include ordinance text beyond the sections amended; any implementing administrative steps or specific utility rate tables for the WWTP debt service are not reproduced in these minutes and were not specified in detail in the record.
