Reynoldsburg council reconsiders, amends and approves 2026 appropriation ordinance after submission error

Reynoldsburg City Council on Jan. 12 unanimously reconsidered and amended Ordinance No. 65-2025, the city’s final appropriation for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026, after officials said the wrong budget version had been submitted at the council’s Dec. 15 meeting.

The council president explained that a version of the budget containing certain large-ticket items for the service and police departments remained in the document submitted in December, though staff intended those items to be removed. City leaders said the correct budget — included in the meeting packet — needs to replace the incorrect version previously adopted.

Councilmember Salvaty moved to amend Ordinance 65-2025 to include the correct final budget; Councilmember Towns seconded. The council conducted a roll-call vote and approved the amendment 7–0. After a short additional motion to adopt the ordinance as amended, the council again voted 7–0 to approve Ordinance No. 65-2025 as amended.

Mayor Begney and other council members said the removed items will remain out of the 2026 budget for the year and can be returned in future budgets if financial conditions change. The council also discussed that the omission occurred during software submission and that the auditor’s office had supplied updated data leading to the intended removals.

The ordinance carries the emergency declaration language as presented at the meeting, and council members said they expect to operate under the amended appropriation for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The council did not list any dissenting votes and recorded a 7–0 tally on both the amendment and final approval. The council president closed discussion and moved on to the next agenda item.