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Ferguson supervisors authorize advertisement of draft 2026 budget amid questions on reserves and fund structure
Summary
The board authorized advertising a public hearing to adopt the draft 2026 operating budget after discussing health‑care cost assumptions, liquid fuels balances, bond fund restrictions and reserves (approximately $8.5 million). Supervisors asked staff to report back on fund restrictions and possible reallocation options.
Ferguson Township’s Board of Supervisors authorized staff to advertise a public hearing for adoption of the draft 2026 operating budget after a presentation from the township manager and finance director.
The manager reviewed budget assumptions, noting volatility in earned income tax collections and an updated health‑care cost increase estimate of roughly 17 percent—lower than an earlier 25 percent assumption. The finance director confirmed current balances in restricted funds, including approximately $400,000 in liquid fuels and a general reserves balance the manager said was about $8.5 million.
Supervisors asked questions about the restriction and timing of the general obligation bond fund and whether some planned contributions could be delayed to ease near‑term cash flow. The manager and finance director said fund restrictions and legal obligations constrain some transfers; they offered to research policies and bring recommendations to a future meeting. One supervisor proposed delaying some fund allocations until new board members settle in after an upcoming election and asked staff to provide a finance 101 refresher for the board.
After the discussion, the board voted to advertise the public hearing for the 2026 budget. The manager reiterated that the Home Rule Charter prescribes adoption timing for the budget in the first or second December meeting.
