Public safety drives Leesburg’s $4.2 million Fiscal Year ’27 budget

LEESBURG — The Leesburg City Council approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget Tuesday night, adopting a spending plan that projects approximately $4.21 million in general fund revenues and expenditures and increases investments in public safety, administration and sanitation services.

The adopted budget anticipates $4,207,633 in general fund revenue, up from the Fiscal Year 2026 approved budget of $4,091,154. Major revenue sources include local-option sales tax collections of $766,700, refuse collection charges of $625,880, payments from the Lee County Board of Education totaling $526,359 and insurance premium taxes of $401,170. Property tax revenues are projected at $386,294. The city also budgeted a $100,000 beginning fund balance and a $150,000 transfer from other funds.

Public safety remains the city’s largest expenditure category, with a FY ’27 budget of $2,018,139. Personnel costs account for most of that spending, with police salaries and benefits projected at $1.76 million. The budget also includes funding for vehicle maintenance, uniforms, community relations activities and other operational expenses.

Administrative services are budgeted at $584,925, an increase from the FY ’26 approved amount of $545,339. Personnel costs for administration are projected at $362,343, while the budget also includes allocations for computer support, insurance, training and contributions to community organizations, including the Lee County Library, Family Connections and the Lee County Chamber of Commerce.

Public works expenditures include a refuse collection contract budgeted at $542,562 and nearly $321,000 in personnel costs. The department also budgeted funds for equipment maintenance, street lighting, mosquito control and other operational needs.

The budget maintains a $50,000 contingency fund to address unforeseen expenses during the fiscal year.

The adopted spending plan reflects modest growth in city revenues and continued emphasis on maintaining core municipal services, particularly public safety and sanitation, which together account for a significant share of general fund expenditures.