Milton council approves 2026 budget

Milton Town Council unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget along with the associated fee schedule and pay structure at its Sept. 8 meeting.

After two meetings, a public hearing and two reviews by the finance committee, council was happy with where the nearly $5 million budget ended up.

“This is a very thorough budget. We kept to the plan, and I am very happy with where this ended up,” said Councilwoman Randi Meredith.

“I think the budget has been thoroughly taken care of this year,” said Councilman Fred Harvey.

The budget calls for a 3.35% increase to property taxes and a new, data-driven capital improvement plan. All told, under the proposed budget, the town would have a $417 surplus, which was lowered from $15,000 in the first draft after council added increases in pay for town staff and the police department.

Capital projects for this year include the purchase of two new vehicles for the police department, a new salt spreader and utility trailer for the streets department, and a new equipment trailer for the water department. The plan also includes replacing water mains on Boxwood and Hemlock streets, both located off Bay Avenue. Council will need to make a decision on whether it pursues one of two projects this year: either a renovation to town hall that would add four to five new offices for staff, a new meeting room, an office for mayor and council, and improved security, or to begin work on constructing a new municipal building for the police and certain town administrative functions at town-owned land on Magnolia Street. 

Last year, council increased property taxes by 30%, which was intended to increase reserves and avoid future large increases. This year’s increase is in keeping with an ordinance passed in 2024 that tied property tax increases to the consumer price index and the employment cost index. Property taxes are the town’s primary source of revenue, accounting for 66% of funding. The increase will bring the town an additional $75,000.

Councilman Scotty Edler said, “It keeps us where we need to be so that we’re not waiting five years and doing 25% or 30%. It keeps us with inflation so we’re not falling behind.”

While there were no objections to it in public meetings on the budget, there had been some chatter online about an item that doubled the pay for town council members from $6,600 to $13,000. Vice Mayor Lee Revis-Plank said this is not a case of the town council giving itself a raise, but because council agendas are getting longer, meetings have become longer and more meetings are anticipated next year. 

Town code says the mayor shall be paid $80 for each regular meeting and $40 for each additional meeting attended. For council members, the pay is $60 for each regular meeting and $30 for each additional meeting attended. Neither the mayor nor council members receive additional compensation except an allowance for travel in their private vehicles. 

Revis-Plank said the increase is to accommodate more meetings expected during FY 2026, but the pay rate is staying the same. 

Besides the budget, at the Sept. 8 meeting, council approved the fee schedule, the donations list and the capital improvement plan. 

All told, Mayor John Collier praised town staff and the town’s financial consultants, PFM, for doing long-range planning while recommending steps that have greatly improved the town’s financial status.

“We’re in a better position financially than the town has been in for maybe a decade,” he said.