Washington council adopts $143.8 million budget and sets tax rate at $0.465

The Washington City Council adopted its Fiscal Year 2026–27 Budget and set the ad valorem tax rate at $0.465 per $100 valuation in a 3–1 roll-call vote on June 8, 2026. The ordinance appropriates $143,808,594 across general, utility and capital funds.

City Manager Jon Rorie told the Council the proposed budget is balanced and described personnel and compensation changes, including eliminated frozen positions, removed longevity pay and a restructuring of merit and cost‑of‑living adjustments. "For every one cent rate reduction would be equivalent to basically losing two employees," Rorie said during the budget discussion.

Councilmember Max Perreault moved to adopt the budget and set the tax rate; Councilmember Anthony Tyre seconded. The motion carried 3–1 with Councilmember Joe Davis recorded as opposing. The adopted motion also withholds funding for the Washington Housing and Development Authority (Main Street Program) and the Civic Center subsidy until specified benchmarks are met during the fiscal year.

During deliberations, Council discussed multiple transfer and amendment items incorporated into the budget, including a $1 million transfer from Fund Balance to cover electric purchase power and other appropriations contained in the ordinance appendix. The budget document lists line‑item appropriations across multiple funds and capital projects and includes user fee schedule changes.

The Council scheduled no further public votes on the enacted ordinance at the meeting; implementation follows standard administrative procedures and the approved appropriation schedule.