MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — During its Dec. 2 regular meeting following a downtown town hall, the Middletown City Council adopted the 2026 budget and a series of emergency ordinances to set pay ranges, benefits and several contract renewals — but a proposal to apply for a state airport grant to build a new box hangar failed to win council approval.

Lede facts: Council approved R2025‑37, the 2026 annual budget, and emergency ordinances establishing a 4.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment and new job classifications for nonunion staff (O2025‑67) and establishing pay ranges for the Department of Health and Environment (O2025‑68). The council also approved year‑end appropriation adjustments (R2025‑35, R2025‑36) and extended several operational contracts for 2026. Votes were recorded by roll call on multiple items.

Airport grant debate: Council discussed O2025‑66, authorizing the city manager to apply for an Ohio Airport Improvement Program grant to fund a portion of a roughly $1.1 million hangar. Council members raised concerns about the hangar’s footprint, potential to impede future airport economic development (including advanced aviation uses), the marketing plan for potential tenants and a modest projected payback period. Airport staff said the hangar would provide rentable box hangar inventory, improve fuel sales potential and could help the airport seek FAA discretionary funding if it attracted jet traffic.

Council recorded a split outcome. The roll call produced two recorded yes votes, two recorded no votes and one abstention; the chair characterized the result as falling on the floor and the application did not proceed at that time.

Abilities First and community recognitions: Earlier in the meeting David Hood, executive director of Abilities First, thanked the council for a unanimous vote in a prior meeting that covered a $73,000 funding gap for program growth. Hood described service expansions for children with autism and early‑childhood programs and presented handmade thank‑you cards from participants. Mayor Slamka and council also issued a proclamation honoring outgoing Council Member Paul Horn for his service.

Other formal votes and action highlights (selected):
- Consent agenda (library minutes; conditional appointment to communications manager): approved by unanimous roll call.
- O2025‑65 (extension of jail food contract with Summit Food Service): approved by unanimous roll call.
- O2025‑67 (nonunion pay ranges / benefits) and O2025‑68 (health department pay ranges): approved (Lawley recorded a dissent on O2025‑67 and O2025‑68 but both passed by majority vote).
- R2025‑37 (2026 annual budget): approved on emergency first reading to be effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Why it matters: The budget and pay‑policy votes put the city’s fiscal plan and personnel structure in place for 2026, while the airport hangar debate exposed a broader strategic question about how the city plans and markets the Middletown Regional Airport for future economic development. Residents and council members signaled interest in both preserving downtown character and pursuing job‑creating opportunities at the airport, but they disagreed about timing and trade‑offs.

What’s next: Council asked staff to return with additional information — including marketing plans for airport assets, potential impacts on developable parcels, and any environmental or well‑field constraints at airport sites — and scheduled strategic planning discussions for early 2026. The council also took a straw poll supporting staff continuing negotiations on the downtown RFQ and authorized collection of bids for roof repairs at the First National Bank building to establish cost estimates.

Vote at a glance (selected items):
- Consent agenda: approved (yes 5‑0).
- O2025‑65 (CBM/Summit foodservice contract extension): approved (yes 5‑0).
- O2025‑66 (airport hangar grant application): no majority (recorded 2 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain) — did not advance.
- O2025‑67 (nonunion pay/benefits): approved (Lawley opposed) — emergency passage to align with 2026 budget.
- R2025‑37 (2026 budget): approved on emergency reading.

Ending: The meeting moved into an executive session under Ohio law to continue confidential negotiations related to economic development. Council indicated it will reconvene public discussions and votes as staff returns with additional analysis.