Council approves FY2026 budget after amendment to cap parks position at $60,000

The Charles Town City Council approved its FY2026 general fund budget after a contentious discussion about a proposed parks deputy‑director position.

Council debated whether to create a deputy director-level parks post (budgeted originally at a higher salary and benefits total) or to start with a lower‑cost, in‑house position while continuing to partner with Jefferson County Parks and Recreation. Multiple council members said the town is not yet operating a parks program that requires a six‑figure deputy director; others argued that building the program now requires senior leadership.

Council member 4 moved — and the council approved by voice vote — an amendment to move the proposed parks deputy director position into the planning department and retitle it a parks/programs manager with a maximum salary of $60,000. The motion also directed the budgetary savings from that change to contingency. The mayor announced the motion carried after a recorded voice vote and the council moved forward with the remainder of the FY2026 budget revisions.

Why it matters: The amendment narrows the immediate personnel cost and places parks programming under planning while leaving room to expand the position later. Council members said shifting the title and capping pay will let the town grow recreation and pool programming while limiting near‑term fiscal exposure.

What’s next: The amended budget moves forward; staff will return with job descriptions and implementation details for the reclassified position and will identify contingency‑account bookkeeping for the savings.