Washington City Council approves reallocation of Civic Center budget from TDA to city

The Washington City Council approved a budget ordinance amendment on July 2, 2026, reallocating the Civic Center budget from the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to the city. Mayor Ellen Brabo called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the Municipal Building.

The minutes state that management of the Civic Center will be done by the city effective July 1, 2026, and that the budget move is required because the TDA and the Civic Center are separate entities with separate financials and budgets. By motion of Councilmember Anthony Tyre, seconded by Councilmember Max Perreault, the council approved the budget ordinance amendment that reallocates the Civic Center budget from the TDA to the city effective July 3, 2026. The minutes record approval of the motion but do not list a roll-call vote tally or the dollar amount being transferred.

Councilmember Antwan Horton and Councilmember Max Perreault were listed as present; Councilmember Davis was recorded as absent and the mayor pro tem seat remains vacant. The minutes identify Cynthia S. Bennett as city clerk and include her certification of the document.

The action transfers responsibility for the Civic Center from the TDA to city administration and moves associated budget authority into the municipal budget. The minutes do not provide further detail on the budget line items, the size of the appropriation, or implementation steps; those details were not specified in the record. The meeting was adjourned following the vote.

The minutes provide the council action and the effective dates for management and budget reallocation but leave open the specific budgetary figures and any subsequent administrative steps required to complete the transfer.