Stephens City Council adopts Fiscal Year 2026 budget

Stephens City’s Town Council adopted its Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget during the regular meeting on May 6, 2025. The clerk read the ordinance by title, and Councilwoman Tina Stevens moved to accept the third reading. The motion carried on a recorded vote with Vice‑Mayor Linden A. Fravel Jr., Councilman Pete Fravel, Councilwoman Tina Stevens, Councilwoman Regina Swygert‑Smith and Councilman Brian Woodruff voting Aye; Councilmember Mariah Smith was recorded as absent.

The ordinance was introduced at third reading as “An Ordinance to Adopt the Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.” The minutes do not specify the dollar total of the budget or line‑item changes; meeting minutes record only the title of the ordinance and the roll‑call outcome. Town Treasurer Steve Rickards told the council the month had been “strong” and said town fiscal‑year targets were met, and that staff are awaiting tax data from the Frederick County Commissioner’s Office for conversion to Southern Software.

By council practice, adoption of the budget authorizes appropriations for the fiscal year; the minutes did not include details on effective dates, specific departmental appropriations, or any amendments tied to the adoption. The clerk and town staff will retain the full ordinance text and appropriation schedules as the official record.

The council took no additional, separate budget votes during the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m.