Council adopts 2026 municipal budget after public hearing; mayor warns of project delays from prior failed bond vote

The Township of Washington council opened a public hearing on the 2026 tax budget and, with no members of the public speaking, closed the hearing and proceeded to adopt the budget on May 4. The council approved the self-examination resolution (26‑241) and waived the full reading of the budget (26‑242) before adopting the budget under Resolution 26‑243 by roll-call vote.

In his report the mayor criticized a recent failure of a capital bond ordinance that was considered in the budget process. "I am disappointed that the bond ordinance to fund the capital projects approved during the budget process did not pass," he said, adding that a deciding no vote by a council member meant the ordinance must be refiled, delaying several seasonal projects such as road resurfacing and field repairs that could miss the current construction season.

Council members discussed options to mitigate delays and emphasized the need to address capital items earlier in the budget calendar to avoid compressing approvals into the late spring. The council also suspended final action on Ordinance 26‑04 pending closed-session negotiations and directed staff to return with amended materials after the closed session.