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ITEM: RESOLUTIONS ADOPTING THE FY 2026-2027 BUDGETS AND ASSESSMENT RATES FOR THE ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WELLINGTON SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND SADDLE TRAIL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT; AND A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FY 2026-2027 BUDGET FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY.
I. RESOLUTION NO. AC2026-06: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADOPTING THE DISTRICT BUDGET AND NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL AS PROVIDED HEREIN; LEVYING OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR THE DISTRICT AND APPOINTING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRICT FOR CERTIFICATION OF THE DISTRICT’S NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
II. RESOLUTION NO. AC2026-07: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE ACME IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADOPTING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2026, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2027; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
III. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-39: A RESOLUTION OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA'S COUNCIL ADOPTING THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM BUDGET AND NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL AND LEVYING THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF WELLINGTON; PROVIDING FOR RATES AND APPOINTING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF WELLINGTON TO CERTIFY THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
IV. RESOLUTION NO. R2026-40: A RESOLUTION OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA'S COUNCIL ADOPTING THE SADDLE TRAIL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL AS PROVIDED HEREIN; LEVYING OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR THE AREA AND APPOINTING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF WELLINGTON FOR CERTIFICATION OF THE AREA’S NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of Resolution numbers AC2026-06, AC2026-07, R2026-39, and R2026-40 as presented adopting the FY 2026-2027 assessment rates and budgets, and appointing Mayor Michael J. Napoleone as the official authorized representative to certify the non-ad valorem assessment rolls.
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EXPLANATION:
I. Resolution No. AC2026-06 sets forth the Acme Improvement District budget and related non-ad valorem assessment for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
The budget for the Acme Improvement District totals $7.9 million at the non-ad valorem assessment rate of $275 per assessment unit excluding Palm Beach Polo sub-units and $305 per Palm Beach Polo sub-unit. Both per-unit assessment rates are the same as the prior year. The rates are equal to the proposed assessments approved for Truth in Millage (TRIM) purposes on June 30, 2026. The proposed budget is down $211,000, or -2.8% from the FY 2026 budget. The Acme Improvement District budget requires the appropriation of $541,041 in reserves to balance the budget and fund all operations, maintenance and capital expense.
The proposed District budget funds:
• 14 permanent and 1 part-time position; no change from last year
• Operating services and supplies, decreasing 9.7%
• Total capital investment of $3.0 million in surface water management system and improvements and equipment.
II. Resolution No. AC2026-07 sets forth the Water and Wastewater Utility budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Pursuant to the 2023 utility rate study recommendations and annual capital plan updates, the water and wastewater rates effective for FY 2026-2027 are proposed to increase by the CPI of 5.08% for most rates. The utility rate schedule is provided in the resolution attachments. The average customer using 5,000 gallons per month will pay $4.79 more per month, or about $57.00 per year. All utility customers have been notified of the proposed rates as well as the date of this Council meeting. The revenue generated by the higher rates will fund the increased cost of needed capital renewal & replacement (R & R) and improvement projects to keep the utility system compliant and reliable.
The budget for the utility totals $38.6 million excluding depreciation, and is an increase of $2.3 million from the FY 2025-2026 budget of $36.3 million. The increase is due to higher capital project funding.
The proposed budget funds:
• 64 permanent positions
• 7 supplemental positions in utilities and field services administration, customer service, water plant operations, and wastewater collection
• Operating services and supplies, increasing 1.7%
• Total capital investment of $11.5 million in Utility systems R & R and improvement
III. Resolution No. R2026-39 adopting the Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Program budget and non-ad valorem assessment rates for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
The budget for the Solid Waste Collection Program totals $8.1 million excluding depreciation. Solid Waste assessment rates are proposed at $325 per curbside unit and $240 per containerized unit. This is an increase from last year’s rates by $5 for both curbside pickup and containerized collection, and the proposed rates are equal to the preliminary assessments approved for TRIM purposes on May 12, 2026. The contract will renew on October 1, 2026 with an increase of 4.44%, based on contract terms under current CPI rates. The contract cost is projected to increase approximately $267,000 for FY 2027 as a result of the CPI adjustment. The Solid Waste budget is balanced at the proposed rates with a budgeted increase to reserves of $279,000.
The contract provides for Commercial and Special Services rates and authorizes Wellington to collect, at the time of issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy to newly-constructed residential units, the same Solid Waste Collection and Recycling fee on a pro-rata basis, as all other residential units pay through the annual property assessment process. Funds received from the collection of the disposal fee will be used to compensate the Contractor for their disposal costs not covered by fees collected through the annual property assessment from assessed residential units. The fee collected is at the same rate as that collected by the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County for disposal costs.
The Resolution also presents the Solid Waste Disposal rates for FY 2026-2027. The Solid Waste Authority assessment for single family units is proposed at $217 (up $12) per Single Family unit and $122 (up $8) per Multi-family/Containerized unit (final adoption of rates is in August).
IV. Resolution No. R2026-40 adopts the Saddle Trail Park Neighborhood Improvement District non-ad valorem assessment rates for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The budget for the assessment revenue totals $271,000 (adjusted for 5% discounts) in the Debt Service Fund and are assigned for payment of the 15-year bond issued in 2016. The Debt Service Fund allocation is adopted at the September budget hearings for the governmental funds.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: YES QUASI-JUDICIAL:
FIRST READING: SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
FISCAL IMPACT: Approval of the foregoing resolutions adopts the budgets and non-ad valorem assessments for the Acme Improvement District, Wellington Solid Waste and the Saddle Trail Park Neighborhood Improvement District; and adopts the budget for the Water & Wastewater Utility for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of Resolution numbers AC2026-06, AC2026-07, R2026-39, and R2026-40 as presented adopting the FY 2026-2027 assessment rates and budgets, and appointing Mayor Michael J. Napoleone as the official authorized representative to certify the non-ad valorem assessment rolls.