Budget Review Process

Council will review the City’s proposed budget, and during public, televised budget hearings, listen to presentations from each department and ask questions about proposed spending plans. The first budget hearing will take place on Monday, April 5, 2027, beginning at 4:30 p.m., with the following departments presenting their budget to the council: Wilmington Youth Advisory Council, the Mayor’s Office, and Wilmington City Council. Budget hearing meetings will continue throughout the month of April, and will be conducted by the council’s finance committee.

Budget Town Hall Meetings & Presentation

Ever wondered how Wilmington’s budget works, where City funding goes, or how financial decisions impact your neighborhood? Wilmington City Council invites YOU to join our Fiscal Year 2028 Community Budget Town Halls! Beginning October 20, Council Members, including Councilwoman Michelle Harlee, Chair of the Finance and Economic Development Committee, will host four community meetings to help residents better understand the City’s budget process, financial priorities and long-term fiscal outlook.

WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY BUDGET SURVEY

Click here to view and take the survey:  https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/DTadja4KS1

BUDGET TOWN HALL PRESENTATION

Click here to view and download the presentation: BUDGET TOWN HALL PRESENTATION

TOWN HALL SCHEDULE
All meetings: 6–7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20 | 1st & 2nd Districts
NOMA Library
3905 N. Market St.

Tuesday, October 27 | 3rd & 4th Districts
People’s Settlement
408 E. 8th St.

Thursday, October 29 | 5th & 6th Districts
William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center
501 N. Madison St.

Tuesday, November 10 | 7th & 8th Districts
Joseph Johnson Elementary School
2100 Gilpin Ave.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

✅ How the City budget works and where funding goes

✅ City Council’s role in reviewing and adopting the budget

✅ Current financial challenges and five-year projections

✅ Council’s budget priorities

✅ How residents can stay informed and participate in the budget process

These town halls are an opportunity to ask questions, gain insight and engage directly with your elected representatives.

All Wilmington residents are welcome to attend ANY meeting, regardless of Council district.

• 4th District Council Member Michelle Harlee, Finance Chair

• At-Large Council Member Latisha Bracy, Vice Finance Chair

• 2nd District Council Member Shané N. Darby

• 3rd District Council Member Zanthia Oliver

• At-Large Council Member Alexander D. Hackett

• At-Large Council Member James Spadola

• City Council President Ernest Trippi Congo as Ex-Officio.

Beyond the members of the finance committee, other council members will participate in the budget review meetings.

 

Finance/Budget Information

The Office of Management & Budget is responsible for the development of the City’s annual budget and the six-year Capital Program. This includes conducting budget hearings with all Department Heads and subsequent meetings with the Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff and the Finance Committee of City Council along with the production of all related ordinances and documents, including a comprehensive proposed budget book. In budget meetings and hearings, qualitative analysis by OMB is presented for each department.

 

OMB also presents the budgeted revenue projections to City Council. After the passage of the Budget by City Council, OMB is responsible for the production of the Budget Book in accordance with GFOA guidelines and the budget award certification process. In addition, OMB plays an integral part of the Bond Rating and bond issuance processes and the formulation of the City’s Official Bond Statement.

Budget Review Process Website

 

How the Budget Works

Reviewing, voting on and ultimately adopting a balanced budget, as stipulated in City Charter Sections 2-300 and 2-303, is one of the most important tasks of the Wilmington City Council. Once the Mayor’s Office releases its proposed budget, members of City Council spend weeks reviewing it, preparing questions and, in many cases, offering suggestions for enhancements. A principal part of this process is our annual departmental budget hearings. Throughout the course of several weeks, every department presents its budget to the City Council, and it is during these hearings that your elected representatives have the opportunity to ask questions, offer suggestions and help to better understand where your tax dollars are spent. At the conclusion of the hearings, City Council and administration leadership engage in discussions to finalize agreement on the proposed budget.

 

Information on understanding the municipal budget process, and the legal requirements of the City of Wilmington related to its annual budget, can be read by clicking on the CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO THE BUDGET PROCESS, which is compiled by the City’s Office of Management and Budget and included in each year’s budget documents.

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2027 at 4:30PM
Wilmington Youth Advisory Council
Mayor’s Office
Wilmington City Council

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2027 at 4:30PM
Revenue Projections
Finance Department
City Treasurer’s Office

 

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2027 at 4:30PM
City Auditor’s Office
Public Works Department (GF, MVF, WSF)

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2027 at 4:30PM
Land Use & Planning Department
Licenses & Inspections Department

 

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2027 at 4:30PM
Parks & Recreation Department
Mayor’s Office of Economic Development
Office of Information Technology

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2027 at 4:30PM
Police Department
Fire Department

 

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2027 at 4:30PM
Real Estate & Housing Department
Human Resources Department
Law Department

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2027 at 4:30PM
Presentation Water Sewer Fund 6 – Year Financial Plan/ Public Works (WSF)

 

*Meeting notice 10/2/26 and subject to change and subject to change. 

 

LOCATION: Louis L Redding City County Building, 800 N. French Street, Council Chambers Wilmington, DE 19801.

Meetings will be Hybrid/Zoom With Anchor Location in Council Chambers.

 

The City Council must approve a balanced budget by June 1 or 30 days prior to the start of the fiscal year.

 

Ways to Participate

To connect to live hearings, go to Wilmington City Council’s website, click on the events calendar section, then click the link in the calendar on the day of the hearing and follow the listed instructions. All public budget hearings will be broadcasted on the city council’s website, Zoom, on WITN’s platforms on Facebook or YouTube, online at WITN22.org, on Comcast Channel 22, or on Wilmington City Council’s Facebook and Twitter. All public budget hearings will be archived on witn22.org for replay at any time.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Yesenia Taveras
Director of Communications, Wilmington City Council
Office: (302)576-2585
Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com