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ITEM: RESOLUTIONS ADOPTING PRELIMINARY TRIM RATES FOR WELLINGTON, THE ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE SADDLE TRAIL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS:
A. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-28 (ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR WELLINGTON FOR TRUTH-IN-MILLAGE (“TRIM”) PURPOSES WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF WELLINGTON)
A RESOLUTION OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR WELLINGTON FOR TRUTH-IN-MILLAGE (“TRIM”) PURPOSES FOR THE MUNICIPALITY’S FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 BUDGET WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF WELLINGTON; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
B. RESOLUTION NO. AC2026-05 (ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT RATES FOR ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR TRIM PURPOSES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADOPTING THE DISTRICT’S PRELIMINARY NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT RATES FOR TRUTH-IN-MILLAGE (“TRIM”) PURPOSES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
C. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-29 (ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT RATES FOR THE SADDLE TRAIL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR TRIM PURPOSES)
A RESOLUTION OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT RATES FOR THE SADDLE TRAIL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR TRUTH-IN-MILLAGE (“TRIM”) PURPOSES WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF WELLINGTON; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of the following resolutions setting TRIM rates for ad-valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments for Wellington, Acme Improvement District and Saddle Trail Park South Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) debt as required by law:
A. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-28: The preliminary TRIM ad valorem millage rate proposed at 2.47 mills (no change from the current year rate) is estimated to be 4.27% above an approximate rollback rate of 2.37 mills, based on the preliminary taxable value of $13.87 billion issued by the property appraiser on May 27, 2026. The rollback rate and percent above rollback will change with the issuance of the certified taxable value on or before July 1, 2026.
B. RESOLUTION NO. AC2026-05: Non-ad valorem assessments for the Acme Improvement District proposed at $275.00 for all units except Palm Beach Polo Units with the proposed assessment rate of $305.00, no change from the prior year.
C. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-29: Non-ad valorem assessment rates for the Saddle Trail Neighborhood Improvement District for TRIM purposes according to the attached assessment roll. There is no change in the per-unit assessment rate proposed.
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EXPLANATION: Truth-in-Millage (TRIM) rates are due to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s office by July 30th to comply with the TRIM process timeline. The accompanying resolutions specify the maximum preliminary millage and non-ad valorem assessments to be included on the annual TRIM notice for all taxable property within Wellington, the Acme Improvement District and the Saddle Trail Park South Neighborhood Improvement District.
The final millage and assessment rates will be adopted following the required public hearings in August and September. The Council may adopt final rates at or below preliminary TRIM rates. TRIM rules allow for several rate options as shown in the Millage Rates attachment.
The preliminary rates will fund the FY 2026-2027 preliminary budget and capital improvement plan (CIP) presented to Council with the use of fund balances while maintaining Wellington’s tradition of strong financial stewardship for a safe, vibrant, and beautiful community.
The preliminary General Fund budget totals $71.87 million including transfers, down $1.27 million or -1.7%, from the FY 2025-2026 adopted budget of $73.14 million due to reduced operating budgets for facility maintenance, capital improvements, and the prior year election expense more than offsetting rises in other areas, such as the law enforcement services contract. The General Fund is balanced at 2.47 mills without the appropriation of or increase to fund balance.
The preliminary Acme Fund budget totals $7.92 million, down $211,000, or -2.6% from last year in operating and capital expenses. The preliminary $275 annual assessment for all units is the same as FY 2025-2026 and balances the Acme budget with the use of $541,000 in fund balance. Palm Beach Polo units are assessed $30 more, or $305 per unit to provide surface water management services to former golf course acreage converted to open space, no change from the prior year.
The assessments for the Saddle Trail NID (Neighborhood Improvement District) are unchanged from last year and fully fund annual debt service of $270,000 on loans issued to pay for the neighborhood improvements. FY 2027 will be the 10th year of the 15-year assessment.
The preliminary FY 2026-2027 budget for all funds totals $149.96 million, and is down $5.93 million, or -3.8% from FY 2026 including fund balance additions. The budget focuses on continuing all of Wellington’s current services while adjusting service delivery to reduce maintenance costs, investing in traffic and stormwater capital improvements, and providing fiscal assistance for schools and homeowners. The budget minimizes tax increases while maintaining excellent fiscal condition.
• The budget for all Governmental Funds totals $103.27 million, a decrease of $8.47 million or -7.6%
o Operating and Fixed Asset expenditures decline $1.63 million for ongoing operations
o Lower Capital Project expenditures by $4.60 million for infrastructure improvements budgeted in the prior year
o Decreased governmental transfers by $2.77 million for capital
o Fund balance increases total $729,000 in the governmental funds, higher than FY 2026 by $537,000
• The budget for the Enterprise Funds totals $46.69 million, up $2.54 million, or 5.8% from FY 2026;
o The Utilities fund is up $2.08 million due to added capital project funding
o The Solid Waste fund is up $262,000 in operations, mainly for contract costs
o Transfers to the General Fund for indirect costs are up $210,000 in total
o The Utilities Fund requires $1.98 million in unrestricted reserves to balance the budget, and the Solid Waste Fund adds $279,000 to reserves from the higher preliminary assessments
• 322 permanent positions, down 2 from the adopted FY 2026 permanent staffing level, eliminating positions in Planning and in Accounting & Treasury with anticipated efficiencies from technology investment. The preliminary budget includes funding for 13 supplemental positions across funds, down 1 from FY 2026 amended staffing levels.
o Governmental Funds, excluding Building: 227 permanent positions
o Building Fund: 29 permanent positions
o Enterprise Funds: 66 permanent positions
State revenues, taxable value, investment income, and tax revenue estimates will be evaluated and updated prior to final budget adoption. Forecasted expenditures will also be reviewed for changes. Any revenue and expenditure updates from the preliminary to proposed budget will be presented to Council in public meetings scheduled for August and September.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: NO QUASI-JUDICIAL:
FIRST READING: SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
FISCAL IMPACT: The rates proposed for preliminary TRIM will fund the preliminary FY 2026-2027 budget and capital improvement plan with use of fund balances in the Building Fund, Acme Fund, and Utilities Fund; and is budgeted to increase fund balances in Recreation Impact Capital, Transportation Impact Capital, Debt Service, and Solid Waste Funds as presented to Council. Final adopted rates may be lower at the time of adoption.
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following resolutions setting TRIM rates for ad-valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments for Wellington, the Acme Improvement District and Saddle Trail Neighborhood Improvement District debt as required by law:
A. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-28: The ad valorem millage rate proposed at 2.47 mills (no change from the current year rate) is estimated to be 4.27% above an approximate rollback rate of 2.37 mills, based on the preliminary taxable value of $13.87 billion issued by the property appraiser on May 27, 2026.
B. RESOLUTION NO. AC2026-05: Non-ad valorem assessments for the Acme Improvement District proposed at $275.00 for all units except the Palm Beach Polo Units with the proposed assessment rate of $305.00.
C. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-29: Non-ad valorem assessment rates for the Saddle Trail Neighborhood Improvement District for TRIM purposes according to the attached assessment roll.