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Manville manager previews FY2027 draft budget, outlines tax-rate options and staffing trade-offs
Summary
City Manager Dan presented a draft FY2027 budget that aims for a balanced general fund without a fund-balance transfer, highlighted tax-rate scenarios and a growing TIRZ that limits immediately available revenue, and outlined staffing requests that fund seven priority positions while leaving 25 unfilled.
City Manager Dan told the Manville City Council on Aug. 3 that the draft fiscal year 2027 budget is ready for council review and must be adopted on or before Oct. 1 under state law and the city charter. "So we're less than 2 months away from, when we need to adopt our fiscal year 2027 budget," he said, noting the charter also requires a draft by Aug. 1.
Dan said the council will focus primarily on the general fund and presented three tax-rate scenarios: the 'no new revenue' rate (0.53399), maintaining the current 56¢ rate, or going higher (approaching roughly 61¢). He warned that much assessed value sits inside the city's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) around Meridiana and south of Highway 6, reducing the portion of property tax revenue the city receives immediately. "Even though all the development that's happening in Meridiana... that's in the TIRZ... we don't get any of that revenue yet," he said.
The manager walked the council through the budget packet sections, including the budget comparison report, appraisal roll and the tax-rate notice, and highlighted that staff is presenting a draft balanced budget that does not rely on a fund-balance transfer. He added the draft includes seven prioritized new positions (some added midyear) but does not fund the full director-requested list of 32 new roles. "By the time you add them all up, it was 32 new employees. We can't afford that," Dan said.
Council members pressed staff on revenue assumptions, especially permits and license receipts. Mayor Davis noted the adopted budget showed about $4 million in permits and licenses while activity through May totaled $2.3 million; Dan and Finance staffer Rosie explained permit revenues and related inspection expenses tend to track together and that current projections assume continued permit activity. When asked about a $600,000 grant placeholder tied to roughly $800,000 in police equipment purchases, Dan said the city will capture grant revenue if secured but is prepared to make the full expenditure without it.
The presentation ended with staff offering to track outstanding questions and provide follow-up materials to council prior to final adoption. Dan said two workshops are likely to follow: one for utilities and vehicle replacement topics and a subsequent special meeting or the second September meeting for final adoption, after a required public hearing for the budget and tax rate.
