Millville Council adopts FY27 budget, approves 6% staff pay increase and keeps certified property tax rate

Millville — The Millville City Council adopted the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget on June 11, approved a 6% pay increase for city employees and voted to accept the County‑provided certified property tax rate for calendar year 2026.

Recorder Corey Twedt, who led the budget review, told the Council the city’s finances are in a stable position and that sales tax remains the General Fund’s largest revenue source, generating roughly three times as much as property tax. “I think Millville is doing well financially,” Twedt said, noting that the city is building reserves and using grant funding for several capital projects.

Why it matters: The FY27 budget accommodates planned capital purchases — including a possible backhoe, a lawn mower and a sewer lateral camera system — continued road work funded from Class C road revenue, and grant‑funded projects such as playground equipment at South Park and improvements at Glenridge Park. Council members also cited an additional $1.4 million in state grant funding to help cover Millville’s buy‑in to the Hyrum sewer treatment facility, which helped limit increases to sewer user fees.

Key budget and fiscal points - Employee compensation: After earlier discussion, the Council adopted an ordinance implementing a 6% pay increase for city staff (Ordinance 2026‑4). The Council recorded no in‑room public opposition; an emailed comment supported the increase. - Property tax: The Council accepted the County’s certified 2026 property tax rate, meaning the city will receive roughly the same property tax revenue as the prior year; Recorder Twedt clarified that the adopted rate applies to calendar year 2026 and will be received in Millville’s FY27 (which begins July 1, 2026). - Grants and capital: The city is using a mix of grants and reserves for projects: $130,000 in RAPZ funding for park improvements, a $50,000 grant to update the General Plan, and federal/state grants that covered more than 56% of a more than $35 million sewer project, including a recent $1.4 million state award for sewer buy‑in. - Development and impact fees: Nine new homes were built during FY26, the highest total since 2023; road impact fee dollars are allocated to a planned widening of 550 East between 100 South and 300 South, now in design.

Council questions and next steps Councilmember Darcy Ripplinger asked for more detail about the 550 East widening project; Recorder Twedt said engineering design is under way and that construction will be bid after design is complete, at which point the Council will review actual cost estimates and funding options. Councilmember Jacob Ames noted continuing uncertainty about fire and EMS costs on the south side of the county and said the FY27 budget was drafted to cover a worst‑case scenario for Millville this year. Ames also raised interest in revisiting an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program now that sewer connections are in place.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2026‑7 (Adopt FY27 budget): mover Jacob Ames; second Ryan Zollinger; vote: Ward, June, Ames, Ripplinger, Zollinger — yes; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 2026‑4 (Employee compensation increase — 6%): mover Jacob Ames; second Darcy Ripplinger; vote: Ward, June, Ames, Ripplinger, Zollinger — yes; outcome: adopted. - Resolution 2026‑6 (Accept certified property tax rate): mover Ryan Zollinger; second Pamela June; vote: Ward, June, Ames, Ripplinger, Zollinger — yes; outcome: approved. - Resolution 2026‑5 (Adopt revised FY26 budget): mover Jacob Ames; second Jeremy Ward; vote: Ward, June, Ames, Ripplinger, Zollinger — yes; outcome: approved.

What’s next: Recorder Twedt will continue engineering procurement for the 550 East widening and finalize budget line items as design and bids become available. The Council did not set a new property tax increase and pledged to return if updated cost estimates require further action.