Stuart council reviews mid‑year budget; sanitation fund shows a deficit, manager urges comprehensive utility rate analysis

Town Manager Bryce Simmons presented a mid‑fiscal review of the Town of Stuart’s FY2026 finances at the Jan. 21 meeting, reporting mixed fund performance and recommending a formal rate analysis for the Town’s utilities.

Simmons summarized each fund: the General Fund “remains in a healthy position,” the Water Fund is roughly breaking even, the Sewer Fund is operating efficiently but faces high energy costs, and the Sanitation Fund is in a deficit largely driven by maintenance expenses for the garbage trucks. He recommended proceeding with a comprehensive rate analysis for all utilities to ensure long‑term cost recovery and to support any proposed wage or hiring adjustments for utility operators.

In manager communications Simmons also identified specific operational costs: repairs to water leaks on Frankie Lane, an estimated significant leak on Dobyns Road (~20 gallons per minute), and a required fuel pump for an older garbage truck estimated at about $2,500. He said the new garbage truck is undergoing diagnostics for computer programming issues affecting the power‑take‑off (PTO).

Simmons reported several grant activities that could affect capital planning: Rural Development is finalizing an environmental review for a resiliency/backup power project, erosion and sediment control plans are being finalized for a backwash equalization project, and Senator Warner’s office has indicated potential appropriations funding of $1 million for that backwash project. Council did not adopt rate changes at the meeting and directed staff to pursue the recommended analysis.