Lilydale Council Approves 2027 Budget With East Side Transit Expansion, Raising Property Taxes for All Homeowners

The Lilydale City Council voted 6-3 on July 7 to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget, which adds three weekday bus routes along Maple Avenue and River Road while imposing a uniform property tax increase across all residential parcels.

The vote follows a June 12 public hearing where city staff presented updated ridership data showing east-side routes operating at 78 percent capacity during peak hours, a figure drawn from the municipal transit authority's March 2026 quarterly report.

Changes to Household Costs and Service Access

Homeowners in the west-side Oak Grove subdivision will pay the same $120 annual increase as residents near the new stops, though those households will continue to rely on existing routes that run every 45 minutes. Families with children attending schools along the expanded corridors gain direct access to after-school programs without transfers, according to the budget document released by the city finance office.

Local advocates note that small businesses on Maple Avenue between 5th and 12th Streets will see increased foot traffic from the added service, which begins operation on September 1. The legislation states that the tax adjustment applies to parcels valued above $250,000, exempting only city-owned properties and designated low-income senior units.

City records show the $1.8 million for transit comes from a combination of the general fund and a 0.25 percent increase in the residential millage rate. Projected ridership growth of 12 percent by 2028 appears in the same budget paper, based on models supplied by the regional planning commission.

Implementation begins with route planning meetings scheduled for August 4 at city hall, followed by farebox installation and driver hiring. The next council review of transit performance is set for the January 2028 budget cycle.