Millcreek council reviews budget shifts to cover UPD contract, keeps fund balance near statutory maximum

At a May 26 work session, Millcreek Finance Director Lisa Dudley outlined adjustments to the FY2026-27 General Fund and the five-year Capital Improvement Program, emphasizing public safety cost increases tied to the Unified Police Department contract.

Dudley said the most recent law-enforcement contract included the full percentage increase (approximately 2.36–3%) and that the city plans to use $800,000 of the precinct fund balance to help offset those costs. She reported a total public safety department budget of approximately $16,855,000 supported by about $16,863,559 in associated revenues, which effectively earmarks property taxes and franchise fees for public safety and frees other general revenues for city operations. "The city's audited FY2025 general fund balance was at 34% and under the proposed budget will remain at roughly 35%, which is at the statutory maximum," Dudley told the Council.

The Council asked detailed questions about sidewalk and safe-routes-to-school projects, traffic calming, and grant continuity. Dudley recommended deferring the Central Avenue stormwater project one year to prioritize an urgent project on 3570 East and confirmed stormwater cash was nearly $5 million at the end of FY2024 with $2 million held as internally restricted cash for major projects. Council members signaled interest in increasing traffic-calming funding and instructed staff to consult the Public Works Director and return with a proposed allocation before final budget adoption.

The work meeting concluded with the Council agreeing to refine the budget as certified property-tax new-growth figures and additional staff input become available. No formal budget adoption occurred at this meeting; staff reported they would monitor certified tax-rate information in early June and adjust the recommended use of fund balance as needed.