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Douglass Township faces large 2026 budget shortfall; board to seek public input
Summary
Treasurer Cynthia O'Donnell presented a preliminary 2026 budget showing a six-figure deficit; the board discussed cuts, capital-reserve uses and possible tax increases and agreed to put the budget back on the Nov. 17 agenda for public comment.
The Douglass Township Board of Supervisors on Nov. 13 reviewed a draft 2026 budget that Treasurer Cynthia O'Donnell said initially showed a deficit of $759,288.94 after meetings with department heads. O'Donnell outlined slowed development revenue and a $200,000 increase in health-care costs as primary pressure points.
O'Donnell and staff identified $52,500 in additional income and proposed removing or funding from capital reserves several expense items — including $147,335 in road construction/maintenance, a new park trailer ($4,944.85), scanning software for administration ($21,062.50) and police-station improvements ($62,438) — "bringing the 2026 budget deficit to $304,656.59," she said. The board also discussed a delayed police hire line of $108,000 and potential personnel changes of about $148,000.
Officials said some cuts could be covered from the capital reserve fund and noted that a multimodal grant for the County Line Road Bridge, if awarded, would reduce the gap. Township Manager Andrew Duncan and Assistant Manager David Thompson continue to refine assumptions. Chairman Joshua Stouch said he was not comfortable adopting a plan without public input; the board agreed to place the budget on the Nov. 17 agenda to solicit comment.
A motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented passed 3–0 (Don Bergstresser, Joshua Stouch, Sara Carpenter). The board adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
