WELLINGTON | TODAY
BY JIM BARNES, WELLINGTON VILLAGE MANAGER
According to Village Manager Jim Barnes, Wellington’s progress does not occur by accident. It happens because of people: the engineers who design better drainage; the public works staff who maintain fields and trails; the volunteers who pack holiday meals; elected officials who wrestle with complex choices; and residents who care enough to show up.
A LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND AT THE START OF 2026 As we step into a new year, it feels fitting to pause and take stock not only of projects completed and budgets adopted, but of the quieter measures of community health: the relationships that bind us, the volunteers who show up, and the steady public servants who keep Wellington safe, clean and welcoming. After 30 years as a village, and 22 years as a member of Team Wellington, I remain struck by how our progress is always the product of partnership: residents, businesses, nonprofits, elected leaders and staff working together toward a shared future. Here is an honest, hopeful view of where we stand today, what we’ve accomplished, what we’re investing in, and what matters most as we plan for the coming years. Fiscal Strength with a Purpose — Sound stewardship of public dollars
isn’t an end in itself; it’s how we preserve options for the future. For fiscal year 2026, the village adopted a total proposed budget of roughly $156 million, an increase driven largely by major utility capital projects that will bolster our water reliability for years to come. These investments reflect a deliberate choice: preserve service levels, invest in infrastructure and plan for resilience while protecting taxpayers’ interests. You can review the adopted budget and its line items in detail. Our budget documents remain intentionally transparent so residents can see how priorities — parks, drainage, public safety and utilities — are resourced and scheduled. Investments in Infrastructure — This past year, we advanced significant capital work across roadways, drainage, utilities and recreation. Those projects WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE | January 2026 51