Middletown officials outline $9.6 million in capital needs, warn of $2.8 million operating shortfall

Middletown Township officials presented a list of proposed capital maintenance and improvement projects and solicited public priorities at a capital budget workshop on Aug. 18. Township Manager Eden Ratliff said the township is starting the budget cycle with an operating shortfall of $2,800,000 for 2025 and outlined nearly $9.6 million in combined capital requests if the board funded every item presented.

Ratliff said the operating gap — the difference between the township’s approved spending and revenue for 2025 — is being covered by fund balance for now but is not sustainable: “We are spending $2,800,000 more in the 2025 budget than what we are bringing in in revenue in 2025,” he said. He added the gap could grow by roughly $1 million next year because roughly 80 percent of the township’s general fund budget covers personnel costs.

The presentation separated capital maintenance (preserving existing assets) from capital improvements (new assets or upgrades that increase functionality). Staff proposed $4.9 million in maintenance items including parks work, facility repairs, IT and police equipment, and vehicle and heavy-equipment replacement. Facility repairs were the single largest maintenance category because of a proposed $1.1 million roof-and-gutter replacement for the township building that helped raise the facilities total to about $1.7 million.

Capital improvements totaled about $4.7 million in…