Williston City Commission Approves Budget for FY 2026

After weeks of deliberation and efforts to trim costs, the City of Williston has approved a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2026, ensuring essential services remain intact despite a reduction in spending across various departments.

The budget, which was presented to the City Commission in August, initially reflected a projected deficit of around $16 million. In response, city officials and department heads worked to close the gap, focusing on cost reductions and reprioritizing capital projects. The final budget, totaling $195,050,399 in revenues and $195,031,635 in expenditures, has been balanced through these efforts.

City Administrator Shawn Wenko highlighted the significant reductions across all departments, including a reduction of 28 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions, achieved through attrition, position freezes, and eliminations—without resorting to layoffs. This restructuring was a key part of addressing the city’s financial shortfall.

Public safety services, including police, fire, and ambulance operations, also saw budget reductions, though Wenko emphasized that these cuts would not impact essential services. “The public remains safe,” Wenko said. "PD is still going to respond, fires are still going to be extinguished, ambulances are still going to come when they are called. What residents may notice is fewer units responding to certain incidents, and some scaling back of some of the proactive outreach and extra programming. The essential services, those are going to stay in place."

The public safety budget totals approximately $25 million, with $13.5 million funded through the City’s portion of the Williams County Sales Tax Extension, which was approved by voters in 2024.

City Finance Director Hercules Cummings explained that while the city receives revenue from property taxes, these funds are constrained by state-imposed caps under HB 1176. This, combined with a potential decline in Gross Production Tax revenues, leaves a gap in funding for public safety operations. Cummings stressed the need for long-term economic development to reduce reliance on volatile revenue sources.

The approved budget also allocates over $12 million for infrastructure projects, including improvements in neighborhoods and the development of Williston Square. These projects, which reflect the city’s ongoing growth and community needs, will be partially funded through the Sales Tax Extension.

To further strengthen fiscal stability, the budget includes modest increases in property taxes, water, sewer, and solid waste rates. Wenko noted that these adjustments are based on independent analyses of rising costs, including labor, fuel, and infrastructure needs.

Looking ahead, the city will introduce a centralized procurement management program and a fleet management initiative, aimed at identifying operational efficiencies and cost savings. These programs are expected to be explored throughout 2026, with full implementation considered for 2027.

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The complete FY 2026 Budget Book, including detailed financials and the city’s strategic plan, will be available on the City of Williston website.