Solon Council adopts 2026 capital, personnel appropriations amid brief debate over park items

SOLON, Ohio — The Solon City Council voted Dec. 15 to adopt two amended ordinances setting the city’s 2026 capital and personal-services appropriations and approved operating budget amendments, completing third readings and invoking emergency suspension for immediate effect.

Clerk introduced Ordinance number 20 25 2 29, the city’s 2026 capital appropriations, which Councilmember Pulunas moved to pass “as amended under suspension.” The motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous.

The council then took up Ordinance number 20 25 2 30 for personal services and other expenditures. Before the vote, Councilmember Zellwin said he would “abstain from any approval over budget items related to the Solon Community Park in an overabundance of caution.” Despite that statement, the roll call for final passage recorded unanimous “Yes” votes on the ordinance and on the associated operating amendments, which Councilmember Khan moved under suspension.

Why it matters: The two ordinances and the operating amendments set legal spending authority for capital projects and personnel costs in 2026. Council discussion and the brief statement about park-related items noted continuing budget pressures in the city’s five-year plan and the council’s interest in seeking revenue options without raising income taxes.

Details: The clerk confirmed these measures were third readings and had been amended following public budget hearings. Councilmembers referenced prior budget deliberations and thanked staff for presentations during the process.

Next steps: With final passage under emergency, the appropriations take effect immediately for fiscal-year 2026. Councilmembers and staff signaled ongoing work to identify revenue and cost-control strategies in the coming year.

(Reporting in this article is based on council proceedings and roll-call votes taken during the Dec. 15, 2025 Solon City Council meeting.)