Washington City council reviews 2026 preliminary budget, approves department totals and $50,000 for downtown authority

WASHINGTON — The Washington City Council met on Nov. 14 for a work session on the 2026 preliminary budget and agreed on department budget totals while adding depreciation line items for several utilities and administrative departments.

Mayor Bruce Bailey presided over the meeting, which began at 9 a.m. and ran into an executive session before reconvening at 12:45 p.m. The council was presented with a draft budget the city manager said incorporated all council members’ requests and will be developed for a final vote in December.

Council members voted to approve individual department budgets for Public Works, Electric, Maintenance, Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, Municipal Court, Community Development/Housing, Planning & Zoning, Administration, Legislative and Finance. Staff were directed to add depreciation line items to Public Works, the Electric Department, Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, the Fire Department and Administration.

The council agreed to allocate $50,000 to the Downtown Development Authority as part of preliminary budget preparations. Economic Development staffing remains under discussion as the city works to fill a vacant position, and the council asked for a detailed budget breakdown and financial report before approving the Animal Shelter budget.

A planned fire truck purchase was put on hold "for more information," the minutes state. Departments provided financial reports and the council discussed pay adjustments; the minutes record an incentive-pay schedule of $350 for employees with 0–5 years of service, $500 for 6–10 years and one week’s pay for employees with 11 or more years of service.

During a procedural moment early in the meeting, Councilman Nathaniel Cullars Sr. said, "Let the record reflect that Councilman Andy Anderson calling in to the meeting" was a concern because of numerous call-ins, a point recorded in the minutes. The agenda to conduct the work session was moved by Cullars and seconded by Councilman David Fisher and was approved by the council.

Councilman David Fisher moved, and Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey seconded, a motion to go into executive session to discuss personnel and real-estate matters. The minutes record that the council met in executive session from 12:28 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.; Attorney Adam Nelson summarized the closed session items as "one personnel matter and three real estate matters," and the minutes state no action was taken after the session.

Motions recorded in the minutes include the agenda approval (moved by Councilman Nathaniel Cullars Sr., seconded by Councilman David Fisher), the motion to enter executive session (moved by Councilman David Fisher, seconded by Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey) and the motion to adjourn (moved by Councilman Nathaniel Cullars Sr., seconded by Councilman David Fisher). The minutes record unanimous passage of the executive-session motion and the adjournment vote.

The council’s next formal step is a final budget vote scheduled for December; the Nov. 14 work session provided direction to staff on line items, the DDA allocation and the incentive-pay framework.