Leesburg Electric Advisory Board Meeting May 4, 2026

The Leesburg Electric Advisory Board met on May 4, 2026, to review the draft electric budget for fiscal year 2027. The discussion focused heavily on capital improvement projects (CIPs), operational needs, and personnel requests. The board reviewed a proposed budget of approximately $80 million, with about $50 million allocated to wholesale power purchases. Key capital projects discussed included system improvements to increase resilience, such as new circuits and a potential fifth substation, though some projects were deferred to reduce costs. Personnel requests for additional groundmen and a meter technician were also trimmed. The board noted no proposed base rate increase for the upcoming year, maintaining current rates with a stable power cost adjustment. Transfers to the general fund were discussed, highlighting a current transfer of about $1.8 million, which is below the 6% charter requirement but considered a positive milestone. The board also reviewed debt payments, reserve levels, and regional rate comparisons, concluding that the utility remains financially stable despite inflation and growth pressures. The budget will be presented to the city commission in July for final approval.