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Forest Heights council introduces FY2027 budget, adopts audits contract amendment, a police recruitment grant and tax rates
Summary
The council introduced the FY2027 budget (first reading), discussed line‑item concerns and public notice timing, adopted an amendment to auditing services, approved a $10,479 GOCCP police recruitment grant authorization (5–0 with 1 abstention), and set FY2027 tax rates (passed 5–1).
The Town of Forest Heights introduced its fiscal year 2027 budget ordinance (Ordinance 01‑26) at a May 4 council meeting as a first reading. The mayor said the draft lists FY27 revenues at $9,641,073 and proposed total appropriations consistent with that revenue, with the ordinance scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026. "FY '27 draft budget lists total revenues as 9,641,073," the mayor read into the record during the ordinance introduction.
The mayor emphasized the budget proposes no tax‑rate increase and includes new set‑asides for road maintenance, reserves and debt reduction to strengthen the town’s fiscal position. Council members raised procedural and substantive concerns: a mayoral newsletter contained an incorrect date for the May 20 budget hearing, and Ways & Means and Finance committee members urged additional line‑item review before final adoption.
On related actions, the council amended and adopted Resolution 33‑26 to clarify the town’s auditing contract language for Lindsay & Associates LLC so the firm provides completed audit reports to town management and elected officials prior to submission. The amendment was adopted and the resolution approved by roll call (recorded as unanimous).
The council also amended and adopted Resolution 35‑26 to authorize submission and acceptance of a Police Recruitment and Retention grant through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), inserting a not‑to‑exceed award amount of $10,479 and updating internal adoption dates. Council recorded the vote as five in favor and one abstention.
Finally, the council adopted Resolution 37‑26 setting the town’s FY2027 property tax rates without increasing the rates. The adopted rates included noncommercial residential at 0.4654, commercial at 0.6, non‑homestead residential at 0.6, the Harborview special pre‑annexation subclass at 0.1, business personal property at 1.75 and utility personal property at 3.0; the resolution passed 5–1.
Next procedural steps: the FY27 budget ordinance was introduced and will return for subsequent readings and final adoption; the council scheduled a public budget hearing for May 20 at 8 p.m. where line‑item review and public comment will be available.
