By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council meeting will be held tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. as it always is on the first Tuesday of the month. But this is the only meeting that will be held at Wellington’s Memorial Auditorium.

That’s because it will hold a Revenue Neutral Rate public hearing, which is required when a levy exceeds the current revenue rate. The council will then vote on whether to approve the 2027 budget and Capital Outlay Plan for the year beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and ending Dec. 31. RNR is the mill levy required to generate the same amount of property tax revenue collected in the previous year based on current assessed valuations.

According to Wellington City Manager Jeff Porter’s memo to the city council in the agenda packet, the Sumner County Clerk has calculated the city’s RNR at 59.362 mills. The city is proposing a mill levy of 63.613 mills, exceeding it by 4.251 mills, but it remains below the 65.691 mill maximum levy authority established by the Council when it notified the clerk of the city’s intent to exceed the RNR.

The estimated annual impact of the proposed levy on residential properties at selected home values:

“The increase of the RNR reflects ongoing financial pressures,” Porter said. “However, the proposed levy remains below the maximum authority communicated to taxpayers and is intended to maintain service levels while addressing rising operating and capital costs.”

Porter said several factors contribute to the proposed levy and spending plan:

•Insurance costs: Property and liability insurance expenses continue to increase substantially across all municipal operations. Insurance expenditures are one of the principal drivers requiring a levy.

•Employee benefits: The City’s self-funded health insurance program remains operationally stable; however, projected employer contributions continue to rise. The Employee Benefits Fund is budgeted at 1.69 million for 2027.

•Material and Chemical Costs: Water and wastewater treatment chemical and material costs remain well above historic levels. Increasing costs of asphalt, concrete, pipe, and other construction materials have significantly increased the cost of maintaining and restoring public infrastructure. At the same time, the City’s aging utility system has experienced a growing number of water main breaks, increasing both emergency repair and street restoration costs.

•Debt obligation: The city continues to manage debt service for major capital projects, including Sellers Park improvements and aquatics center renovations, as well as lease-purchase obligations for public safety and operational equipment. As of Jan. 1, 2026, the outstanding indebtedness exceeds $18.5 million.

The full agenda packet delves into the 2027 budget in more detail; click here.

———

As for the rest of the meeting, the council will have one resolution: to approve a common consumption area, as requested by Lauren Anderson on behalf of the Wellington Humane Society.

/