Budget Review Process

Members of the 108th Session of Wilmington City Council are preparing for the next round of budget hearings to review the City’s proposed fiscal year 2024 general operating fund of $183.1 million, inclusive of no new property tax increase, and the proposed fiscal year 2024 water/sewer fund of $84.2 million, inclusive of a 5.7% water rate increase and a 6% increase in stormwater rates.

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 3, 2023, beginning at 4:30 p.m., with the following departments presenting their budget to the council: Public Works Department (GF&MF) and Parks & Recreation Department. Budget hearing meetings will continue throughout the month of April, and will be conducted by the council’s finance committee.

• 7^th District Council Member Chris Johnson, Finance Committee Chair

• 4th District Council Member Michelle Harlee, Finance Vice Chair

• 3rd District Council Member Zanthia Oliver

• 8th District Council Member Nathan Field

• At-Large Council Member James Spadola

• At-Large Council Member Latisha Bracy

• 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.

FY2024  CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE

• MONDAY APRIL 3, 2023 4:30PM

  Public Works Department (GF&MF)

  Parks & Recreation Department

 

• WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2023 4:30PM

  Revenue Projections

  Finance Department

  Office of Information Technology

 

• MONDAY APRIL 10, 2023 4:30PM

  Mayor’s Office

  City Treasurer’s

  Office Wilmington City Council

 

• WEDNESDAY APRIL 12, 2023 4:30PM

  Public Works Department (WSF)

  Presentation Water Sewer Fund 6 – Year Financial Plan/ Public Works (WSF)

 

• MONDAY APRIL 17, 2023 4:30PM

  Land Use & Planning Department

  Licenses & Inspections Department

  Real Estate & Housing Department

 

• WEDNESDAY APRIL 19, 2023 4:30PM

  Human Resources Department

  Wilmington Police Department

  Fire Department

 

• MONDAY APRIL 24, 2023 4:30PM

  Mayor’s Office of Economic Development

  Audit Department

  Law Department

 

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