Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Emergency Appropriation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council revotes and approves emergency appropriation after member joins during closed session
Summary
After an earlier failed vote because a council member was absent, the Township of Washington council re-voted on Resolution 26-209 and approved the emergent appropriation prior to finalizing the 2026 budget; one council member objected citing late budget delivery in past administrations.
The Township of Washington council re-voted and approved Resolution 26-209, an emergency appropriation to carry the municipality until adoption of the 2026 current budget, on March 23, 2026 after a previously failed vote when a member was absent.
The resolution was first considered earlier in the meeting and did not carry because the council lacked the required number of votes. Council reconvened during closed session; the record notes Councilwoman Velez joined the meeting while closed session was underway and the council came back into open session to re-vote. On the second roll call the resolution passed with the recorded votes: Cascio — No; Sears — Yes; Oman — Yes; Velez — Yes; DeSantis — Yes. Council discussion before the successful motion included concerns about timeliness of budget delivery and the statutory and charter deadlines.
Council member (recorded earlier as opposed) explained their earlier 'No' vote by citing a pattern of late budget delivery by administrations and a desire to receive the budget within the charter’s January 15 timeframe. The mayor and other members said state extensions can affect that timetable and urged members not to conflate state-ordered delays with municipal neglect.
Why it matters: The emergent appropriation allows the township to meet obligations such as payroll and invoices until the full 2026 budget is introduced and adopted. Voting patterns and member concerns about administrative timeliness were part of the record.
Quotes: “In the past there have been issues with the administration… spending money that wasn’t appropriate just yet,” one council member said, explaining their initial 'No' vote. Council President DeSantis said the state can shift budget deadlines and asked members to consider that context.
What’s next: The council will continue budget review; administration said the temporary appropriation is intended to bridge cashflow until the full 2026 budget is introduced.
