Ross council adopts FY 2026 budget amid debate over $2.6M undergrounding and fire‑station savings

The Ross Town Council adopted the fiscal year ending 2026 budget and set the town’s appropriations limit after a 4–1 vote that reflected disagreement over a proposed $2.6 million utility undergrounding project and other capital commitments.

Town Manager Johnson presented the budget as a financial plan that preserves town services while funding capital priorities, including a capital projects fund for the civic center campus modernization. "By the end of the coming fiscal year '26, the town council will have set aside money into the savings account, totaling just under $11,800,000," Johnson said.

Council debate focused on an item in the capital improvement program to underground overhead utilities as part of the civic center and Laurel Grove/intersection work. Staff and consultants reported a project cost estimate of $2,600,000 and said the town expects about $300,000 of PG&E "Rule 28" credits but that the credits are contingent and therefore not included in the conservative budget figure.

"For $2,300,000 it's such a high price tag, for our community," Council Member Matt (last name not specified) said during debate. "It's a lot of money relative to our, you know, saved up $10,000,000. It's 20, almost 30% of the money we've saved up is going to just this one project." He asked staff to return with more detail if the council wanted further review.

Town staff and Public Works Director Rich Simmonage said undergrounding offers aesthetic, wildfire‑risk and emergency‑access benefits and that relocating poles and reconfiguring signals at the Laurel Grove intersection would otherwise be costly. Police and fire chiefs noted undergrounding reduces hazards created when wires or poles fall during storms, earthquakes or wildfires.

Council Member Salter voted no on the budget resolutions because of concerns about the undergrounding cost; four other council members voted to adopt Resolution 2525 (FY 2026 budget and public safety parcel tax rate and salary schedule changes) and Resolution 2526 (appropriations limit for FY 2026).

On public safety spending, staff said closure of Station 18 will generate a projected savings to the Joint Powers Authority estimated at roughly $323,000 in FY 2026; the budgeted Ross share of fire‑department expenses was shown as $3,000,000 after credit application. Staff said some near‑term fire‑station expenses (maintenance, connection of paramedics living on site, and a trailer rent) remain in the budget but that rent for an interim trailer will end once personnel move out after the Fourth of July celebrations.

The council adopted the budget and appropriations‑limit resolution after a roll call vote of four in favor and one dissent.