The Village of Wellington recently announced the availability of two innovative budgeting tools, Balancing Act and Taxpayer Receipt. These interactive platforms empower residents by providing comprehensive information and opportunities for active participation in the village’s budget development process.
Balancing Act offers residents a hands-on experience in exploring the Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary General Fund Budget. Users gain valuable insights into the trade-offs and considerations inherent in budget planning by modifying allocated funding and witnessing the real-time impact on the overall budget. This interactive simulation fosters a deeper understanding of Wellington’s budgeting process, building trust in allocating funds, and encouraging resident input and recommendations.
In addition to Balancing Act, Wellington offers Taxpayer Receipt, which provides residents with an unofficial, itemized receipt showcasing how the village spends tax dollars. Taxpayer Receipt offers a transparent breakdown of programs and services supported by residents’ tax contributions, ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending.
“We are glad to share these two essential tools with our residents during our annual budgeting process,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. “These tools not only provide residents with a deeper understanding of how their tax dollars are spent, but also offer them the opportunity to actively shape the future of our community by sharing their perspectives and recommendations.”
Residents are encouraged to visit the www.wellingtonfl.gov/balancingact to access both the Balancing Act online budget simulation tool and Taxpayer Receipt. They will also find detailed instructions and user-friendly features that will help them explore different budget scenarios.
Residents are also invited to attend the upcoming budget meetings, which include the Acme Improvement District and utility budget approvals on Tuesday, Aug. 12, and two budget public hearings on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and Thursday, Sept. 18, all starting at 6:30 p.m. at Wellington Village Hall (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).
These meetings will include detailed information about the village budget and provide public input opportunities before the final budget adoption.
Wellington remains committed to fostering transparency, resident engagement and effective public spending. With the launch of Balancing Act and Taxpayer Receipt, the village empowers its residents to become informed advocates for the services and programs they value most.
Additional budget engagement and feedback will be collected through surveys released on July 14 and Aug. 1. Look for these surveys online and in your e-mail to submit additional budget input.