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Douglass Township adopts tentative 2026 budget; Board opts to use General Fund balance rather than raise taxes
Summary
Treasurer Cynthia O'Donnell presented a 2026 budget overview showing a deficit narrowed from $759,288.94 to about $304,656.59 through proposed revenue and expenditure changes; the Board adopted the tentative budget and agreed to cover the gap from the General Fund instead of increasing taxes.
Treasurer Cynthia O'Donnell told the Board that the Township's initial 2026 deficit after department meetings was $759,288.94. She and managers identified additional income (about $52,500) and a set of expense reductions and items that could be paid from capital reserves, which reduced the projected gap to roughly $304,656.59.
O'Donnell reported that the 2026 General Fund budget total is $5,966,398.74 and summarized expense items cut or deferred (examples noted in the minutes: $147,335 road construction/maintenance, park trailer $4,944.85, scanning software $21,062.50, police station improvements estimated at $62,500 with a potential $10,000-$15,000 reduction). She said the Township could absorb the remaining deficit through the General Fund if the Board chose that option. The Board voted to adopt the 2026 Tentative Budget and authorize advertisement for public inspection from Nov. 18 to Dec. 15, 2025; the formal adoption of the final budget is scheduled for the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting.
The motion to adopt the tentative budget and advertisement passed (mover: Sara Carpenter; second: Don Bergstresser) with recorded votes Bergstresser-Aye, Stouch-Abstain, Carpenter-Aye. The minutes note the Boardstaff discussion of potential multilodal grant prospects (County Line Road Bridge) and budget items that might be funded from capital reserves.
