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Waterville council weighs ways to trim a proposed 30% levy jump
Summary
Council and Administrator Teresa Hill discussed a preliminary 2026 budget showing a proposed 30% levy increase driven largely by debt service for a new fire hall; Hill urged cuts and reserve discipline and council set a follow-up work session.
Administrator Teresa Hill presented the city’s preliminary 2026 budget on Sept. 16, saying the levy built into the draft is $1,242,949 while the projected levy in the budget is $1,620,300.
Hill flagged a projected 30% levy increase of $295,595, driven primarily by debt service associated with the new fire hall. “I would like to try to decrease this approximate 30% increase,” Hill told the council, and recommended trimming nonessential items and avoiding the use of undesignated reserves.
Hill gave fund-level figures: projected general fund revenue of $2,219,620 and expenses of $2,311,372 (a $91,752 gap before adjustments), while the capital (400) fund showed projected revenue of $1,102,642 and expenses of $1,090,651. She said adjustments already made moved the general fund shortfall to approximately $9,996 and left the 400 fund with an $11,991 surplus.
The council did not adopt a final levy at the meeting; instead members directed staff to narrow options and return with updated numbers at a follow-up session set for Sept. 29.
