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Maumee finance committee reviews 2026 capital priorities, asks staff for cost estimates
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Summary
At a Dec. 2 finance and economic development meeting, staff reviewed draft 2026 capital and operating proposals — from sidewalks and streetlights to parking-lot repairs — and the committee asked for prioritized cost estimates; no final appropriations were approved.
Maumee’s finance and economic development committee met Dec. 2 to review draft capital and operating budget items for 2026, hear staff explanations of available funds and existing programs, and ask for prioritized cost estimates so the incoming council can decide on spending. The committee did not adopt any new appropriations.
The meeting centered on competing priorities: repairing underground infrastructure and sewers versus visible projects such as landscaping and new sidewalks. Finance Director Miss Harkey told the committee the city maintains a sidewalk fund, created from prior sidewalk assessments, that could be used for future sidewalk projects. "The balance was result of a sidewalk assessment," she said, and staff noted the current balance is limited.
Committee members focused on how to use the sidewalk balance. One member asked whether sidewalk repairs are initiated only when the city performs a utility project or whether residents can trigger repairs; staff said the city currently replaces sidewalks when required by a city project and that a proactive replacement program would require dedicated staff time to build and manage. Committee members said the existing sidewalk fund—about $87,000—would cover only a short stretch of sidewalk, not large-scale replacements.
Council member Isaiah cited an example from Toledo in which sidewalk costs were offered as a tax assessment spread over 10 years, producing lower annual payments for homeowners. "They would do a tax assessment…around $1,500 to $2,000 per property made over 10 years," Isaiah said, illustrating one financing option discussed.
Staff also reviewed several road and parking-lot projects. Matt (public works/staff) reported recent cost estimates for Broadway (Allen to Ford) and River Road from Michigan Turnpike total roughly $1.2 million, and he said certain Columbia Gas work was delayed, shifting a larger paving program (previously estimated at about $33 million) into 2028 even though the gas company’s deposits are on deposit with the city.
A separate debate about a proposed $400,000 landscaping package at the Dussel interchange highlighted political tensions about visible projects. Committee member Dave said voters "emphatically said, we want to fix things and stop making things pretty," urging lower-cost alternatives such as pollinator plantings rather than high-cost irrigation and ornamental landscaping.
Street lighting on the Dussel/Ford corridor emerged as a safety item. Staff explained state lighting standards and presented two paths: ask Toledo Edison to add or relocate existing fixtures or have the city install and own new poles. Staff said owning poles increases upfront cost but gives the city maintenance control and may reduce long-term service problems that members have attributed to the utility.
Other budget topics included mowing and grounds maintenance (Towpath mowing costs and an estimate that a full-time operator would cost roughly $110,000 all-in), a $60,000 commercial façade grant program (committee asked for clearer caps and approval process checks), tree-planting and trimming obligations (including a $36,000 planting requirement tied to a project at Roth Park and ongoing stormwater benefits from canopy expansion), staffing needs tied to upcoming development, and quality concerns with low-bid mowing contractors.
Miss Harkey repeatedly asked for directional priorities so staff could focus estimating effort on the projects the committee wants prioritized. "If we had some idea of the way you wanted to go, we're not saying you couldn't throw one out when you found out what cost it was," staff said, urging a practical approach to avoid spending staff time on projects the council will not support.
The committee agreed to ask staff to return with prioritized estimates and clearer funding-source breakdowns; with no formal votes on capital allocations, the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed on roll call. The committee recommended further discussion and that the incoming council review the packet and the prioritized cost estimates when available.
Next steps: staff to produce rounded cost estimates and a prioritized list of capital projects for committee and council consideration; no binding budget decisions were made at the Dec. 2 meeting.
