Coatesville Council adopts 2026 budget; tax rate held steady, vote 4–2 on appropriation

Coatesville City Council on Dec. 8 adopted a package of ordinances approving the city’s 2026 financial framework, holding the general-purpose tax rate at the 2025 level and adopting a 2026 budget after a 4–2 vote on the appropriation ordinance.

Vice President Carmen Green moved to set the 2026 tax rate at the same level as 2025; Councilwoman Charrisse Allen seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The council also unanimously approved an ordinance establishing salaries and wages for city personnel for 2026. Finance Manager Jessica Arthur told council that one-time contingency payments included in the budget are separate from ongoing base salaries: “The contingencies, the one-time contingencies, are in the budget. They are not included in the actual salaries,” she said.

Council then considered an ordinance appropriating specific sums for city government operations in 2026. That appropriation passed 4–2. Councilwoman Khadijah Al Amin and Councilwoman Fran Scamuffa cast dissenting votes and raised questions about budget details, including the treatment of one-time bonuses in the adopted budget. Arthur reiterated the contingencies are budgeted separately from base pay.

The council also approved routine financial business earlier in the meeting, including prior meeting minutes and accounts payable motions recorded as passing unanimously.

The budget ordinance is effective for the 2026 fiscal year; council members did not raise a tax increase and several members noted appreciation for a balanced budget. No further formal amendments were recorded at the meeting.