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Washington County Council adopts 2026 budget and salary ordinance
Summary
The Washington County Council approved the county'wide 2026 budget and a 2026 salary ordinance on Oct. 6, 2025 after discussion of department pay adjustments and budget line items; the motion passed following a roll of motions and departmental comments were invited but none were offered.
The Washington County Council voted Oct. 6, 2025 to adopt the Washington County 2026 budget and the 2026 salary ordinance. Councilmember Todd Armstrong moved the adoption and Councilmember Brad Gilbert seconded; the motion passed.
Council discussion before the vote included salary adjustments and departmental requests. The council recorded a consensus to adjust the Public Defender budget for 2026 to reflect a Paralegal/Office Manager salary of $56,000 and two legal secretaries at $43,000 each. Members also agreed to increase the Health Department's planned salary increase from 4% to 5% for 2026. Department heads and elected officials were invited to comment on the budget; none spoke during the meeting.
The meeting also included a failed motion to remove a $20,000 Fairboard contracting line from the commissioners' budget; that motion failed 2-3 with Councilmembers Mark Abbott, Brad Gilbert and Todd Armstrong opposing. Other budget-related votes earlier in the meeting adopted separate township and district budgets (see companion article). The meeting adjourned after final motions were completed and attestation by Auditor Kyra Stephenson.
