Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Martinsville council adopts balanced 2026 city budget, 4-0
Summary
On Oct. 14 the Martinsville Common Council approved Ordinance 2025-1904, the 2026 city budget, by a 4-0 roll-call vote. Council members and city staff said the balanced budget was reviewed by the city's financial advisor and that delaying approval could have left $300,000 unallocated and raised the tax rate.
The Martinsville Common Council on Oct. 14 approved Ordinance 2025-1904, the 2026 city budget, following a second reading and a roll-call vote that recorded Councilman John Badger, Phil Decker II, Josh Baron and Ben Mahan as voting yes.
Mayor Kenneth W. Acosta introduced the ordinance and said the budget is balanced and has been reviewed by the city's financial advisor, citing prior workshops and advisory review. Acosta told the council that if the ordinance were not approved the city would operate in 2026 under the 2025 budget, which he said would mean no raises for city employees, would leave about $300,000 "on the table," and could push the city's tax rate higher; he also noted the City Court department was not included in the 2025 budget.
City staff and the mayor told the council the budget had been examined during a June workshop and reviewed by the financial advisor Jeff Peters and by Mr. Meredith (staff). After a motion to adopt the ordinance and a second, the council took an alphabetical roll-call vote per Robert's Rules: Councilman John Badger ' yes; Phil Decker II ' yes; Josh Baron ' yes; Ben Mahan ' yes. The motion passed.
Councilmembers directed staff to upload the approved ordinance and finalize preliminary tax-rate numbers for public posting. The council did not record amendments to the ordinance during the meeting.
The adoption of a balanced budget allows the city to proceed with planned 2026 appropriations; staff will finalize tax-rate paperwork and post budget documents to the city website as part of the statutory filing process.
