Mayor Begany outlines $37.5 million budget, major development and road projects for Reynoldsburg

Mayor Joe Begany delivered Reynoldsburg’s State of the City address at City Hall and presented the city’s 2026 operating budget as the framework for several pending capital and development projects. "Officially, our budget is $37,500,000," Begany said, adding that the budget is funded primarily by local income-tax revenue with some state funds, limited property-tax revenue and other sources and that spending is approved by the city auditor and council.

The mayor said the capital improvement fund — which includes secured grants and federal dollars when available — supports street and infrastructure projects and noted that the city has spent more than $30,000,000 on infrastructure projects over the past five years. He described Wagner Road as one of the largest projects in city history, with plans for three lanes from Main Street to Bridal Street, new curbs, stormwater improvements, street trees, lighting, a traffic signal at Priestley Drive, pedestrian access on both sides and underground utility work.

Begany announced a $2,000,000 award for the Bryce Road realignment project, which he said will add turn lanes, repave the corridor, and include pedestrian and bicycle improvements in partnership with COTA; he credited support from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Senator Bernie Moreno. He also highlighted ongoing work on residential paving priorities now that phase 2 of Wagner Road is funded with bonds.

On parks, Begany encouraged the public to review the parks and recreation master plan and outlined several projects: expansion of park space including Bryce Park, a new pocket park at Moyer Park with year-round restrooms and a splash pad, and a dedicated pickleball complex that will include six full-time courts and one convertible court plus a tennis court. He said funding for some park projects will come from the sale of city properties and potential state capital-budget dollars.

Economic development items flagged in the speech included an indoor field house on East Main for tournament play, new restaurants and retail slated for the Alliance Building, a partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority on an affordable-housing development with a planned groundbreaking this spring, and an early-stage annexation of over 120 acres off Taylor Road intended for 'innovation' zoning and job creation.

Begany also summarized regional transportation items: coordination with ODOT on I‑70/Route 256 and the Taylor Road interchange (targeted for 2027), and an update on COTA’s LinkUS bus rapid transit design changes through Reynoldsburg. He said the impacted BRT area in the city has been reduced to "less than 1.3 miles" and that the city will work with businesses along the corridor to minimize construction impacts.

The address closed with a call for continued community partnership and a reminder of upcoming events, including the Tomato Festival on Aug. 13–15. The mayor said the Parks & Service administrative building is under construction with staff expected to move in mid-summer, and he reaffirmed the city’s emphasis on maintaining services without sending additional levies to taxpayers when possible.

The announcements are largely programmatic and procedural; no formal motions or votes were recorded during the address.