Hampton Township council approves 2026 budget goals, pension contributions and routine land‑use and museum agreements

Hampton Township Council on Sept. 18 approved a package of fiscal and administrative items that will guide development of the 2026 budget, raise the township's required pension contributions for next year and clear remaining funds tied to a completed park improvement.

Council voted to adopt 13 budgetary goals to guide the development of the 2026 township budget; the package of goals was presented by staff after discussion at the prior agenda meeting and after the addition of an objective to "evaluate connectivity and access management along township roads." The motion to approve those goals carried on roll call.

The council also approved the township's 2026 minimum municipal obligation (MMO) calculations for the police pension plan and for municipal employee defined‑benefit and defined‑contribution plans. Staff reported that across the three MMOs the township's contribution increased by $233,504 for 2026 and that the township has received state pension aid of $559,916, which offsets part of the required contribution. The council approved all three MMO amounts per the manager's memo dated Aug. 28, 2025.

On land‑use and facility matters, council approved an updated agreement with the Depreciation Lands Museum that replaces the township's 2010 framework and aligns the legal relationship with current practices; the museum's board had recently approved the update. Council also approved release of the final remaining improvement security for Eaton Park in the amount of $416,447.79, after staff determined the park improvements and permit requirements were complete.

Other routine approvals included reapproval of the Allison Park Water Pollution Control Plant lot consolidation so it could be recorded with the county after requested plan changes, referral of the Rylands Subdivision lot consolidation application to the appropriate boards and commissions, and authorization to purchase vestibule furniture for the community center from KI in the amount of $28,031.30 (the project was budgeted at $35,000).

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from Aug. 26, 2025 regular meeting and Sept. 10, 2025 agenda meeting — approved (roll call recorded: Miss Blackburn: Favor; Miss Fritch: Favor; Mister Majelie: Favor; Mister Scholey: Abstain on Sept. meeting; Mister Midgley: Favor; Doctor Johnson: Favor). - Approve 2026 budgetary goals and objectives — approved (all recorded as Favor). - Approve 2026 MMOs for police and municipal employee plans (manager's memo dated Aug. 28) — approved (all recorded as Favor). - Approve agreement with Depreciation Lands Museum (manager memo dated Sept. 4) — approved (all recorded as Favor). - Release improvement security for Eaton Park, revised site plan 20‑01 — approved (amount $416,447.79; all recorded as Favor). - Reapprove Allison Park Water Pollution Control Plant lot consolidation application 25‑01 for recording — approved (all recorded as Favor). - Refer Rylands Subdivision lot consolidation application 25‑07 to boards and commissions — approved (all recorded as Favor). - Approve purchase of community center vestibule furniture from KI, $28,031.30 (capital improvements fund) — approved (all recorded as Favor).

Why it matters: the goals shape department budget requests and capital planning for 2026; the MMO approval sets the township's legally required pension contributions and shows a notable year‑over‑year increase; the release of park funds and museum agreement finalize long‑running capital and operating relationships that affect local recreational and cultural services.

Meeting context: most items were routine and handled by staff motion; council discussion was brief on these agenda items and roll calls indicate unanimous or near‑unanimous support on the recorded votes.