Mantua council adopts FY 2026–27 budget with 4% COLA, targeted pay adjustments

Mantua — The Town of Mantua Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 2026-06-18 on June 18, adopting the town's fiscal year 2026''027 final budget and several personnel adjustments, including a baseline 4% cost-of-living adjustment for all town employees and targeted raises for three staff members.

Finance Manager Ronald Wallace presented the budget at the town hall meeting, saying the plan balances departmental operating costs with projected revenues while incorporating a set of personnel changes. The resolution includes a 4% COLA that explicitly covers Judge Kevin Nelson and three targeted adjustments: Public works assistant Eric Waters received a 7% step increase to address a missed probationary raise and recognize technical training; Public Works Director Marcus Abel and Finance Manager Ronald Wallace each received 12% increases and were reclassified as exempt salaried employees to account for irregular overtime.

The budget incorporates a range of revenue and capital assumptions. Wallace told the council he projects 11 new home builds next year, and the budget counts on connection and impact fees from those homes to help fund the water tank completion and sewer upgrades. Wallace also said the Water Fund revenue projections assume the council will later approve a proposed water rate increase; if the council does not approve new water rates, the town will need to amend the budget to reduce the operating revenue figures.

On solid-waste finances, Wallace said contractor Econo Waste exercised a 5% contract rate increase and recommended raising resident fees by $2 for primary cans and $1 for secondary cans to eliminate a structural deficit; the contractor agreed to hold its FY 2026 rates through 2027. Wallace reported the sewer fund can meet planned capital needs without increasing rates, and he noted a $2,013 police vehicle grant and a $20,000 fire carryover earmarked for a new engine.

Capital projects cited in the adopted budget include the Main Street roadwork, which will use a portion of the town's annual B&C roads allocation (about $180,000 per year) together with $49,972 in remaining federal ARPA funds to meet the town's matching requirement. Parks improvements are funded in part by $30,000 in park impact fees, and cemetery expansion will combine $16,250 in projected plot revenue with a $9,000 cemetery grant and a draw from the general fund balance.

The council opened and closed a public hearing on the final budget on June 18; Wallace recorded that no public comments were received in person or by mail. Mayor Pro Tempore Matt Jeppsen moved to open the hearing and to adopt the resolution; Council Member Henry Dovey seconded the opening motion, and Council Member Scott Ross seconded the adoption motion. The council voted 5''0 (Mayor Annette Ash, Matt Jeppsen, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan and Henry Dovey) in favor of the resolution; there were no no votes or abstentions.

The resolution now establishes the town's legal appropriations for municipal operations for FY 2026''27. Because the adopted budget assumes a pending water rate increase, council or staff must return to amend the budget if the rates are not approved in a separate action.

Votes at a glance: Open public hearing (motion by Mayor Pro Tempore Matt Jeppsen; second Henry Dovey) passed 5''0. Close public hearing (motion by Scott Ross; second Matt Jeppsen) passed 5''0. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-06-18 to approve FY 2026''27 final budget and salary adjustments (motion by Matt Jeppsen; second Scott Ross) passed 5''0.

Reporting: The budget document and the adopted resolution provide the town's financial blueprint for the coming year; the next specific procedural step noted in the meeting record is separate consideration of any rate ordinance for water if and when it is presented to the council.