Mantua council adopts 2026–27 budget; water rate increase proposed for later consideration

The Mantua Town Council adopted its fiscal year 2026–27 budget after a presentation from Ron and a brief public hearing in which no members of the public spoke.

The council approved Resolution 20 26 6 18, which the chair read as the resolution adopting the final FY 2026–27 budget and establishing appropriations for municipal operations. Council members moved and seconded the motion; the chair called for any opposed and declared the motion passed. The transcript does not record a formal roll-call tally for the vote.

Ron, who presented the budget materials, told the council he was "very comfortable" with the revenue and expense projections and explained that some figures presented as general-fund changes reflected transfers or journal entries from restricted funds (impact-fee/PTIF accounts) rather than new cash outflows from the unrestricted general fund. He highlighted that impact fees and connection fees in the materials were modeled on a projection of 11 new houses in the coming year.

The presentation reviewed multiple enterprise and general-fund areas: permitting and business-license revenues, building and road impact fees, grants (including a cemetery grant that Ron adjusted to $9,000 in the materials), and state allotments that the town expects to recognize. Ron said certain grant and vehicle recognitions would be recorded by journal entry and therefore would not reduce operating cash in the general fund.

On personnel, the council discussed a proposed 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for town employees (the presenter said the COLA would include Judge Nelson). The materials also included individual personnel matters: a prior probationary raise for Eric Waters (noted at 7% in the materials), and consideration of exempt-status compensation for two employees (presenter and Marcus Abel) tied to overtime and a 12% exemption calculation. Council members agreed personnel adjustments would be considered during the public hearing and subsequent action.

Ron and council members also discussed the water fund and a staff proposal to raise water rates. Presenters said the town's water rates had not changed since at least 2014; the budget numbers circulated to the council assumed the proposed water-rate change. Ron noted the council would need to present any proposed rate change publicly and later adopt or amend rates in a separate council action.

The council heard that the contracted garbage hauler had applied contractual escalators (a councillor noted a 5% contract increase) and that the town may need to raise garbage rates to maintain fund cash flow. Ron also reviewed B-and-C restricted road funds, parks/trail allocations, and the recognition of a water-tank asset once completed, which would affect capital accounting and impact-fee recognition.

After the presentation and a brief opportunity for public comment, Council member S5 moved to approve the budget items discussed and Council member S6 seconded; the chair called the question and said the motion passed. The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn.

What happens next: the council adopted the FY 2026–27 budget and will schedule any separate rate hearings or formal rate-adoption votes required for the proposed water-rate change; specifics on timing were not set in the meeting record.