Washington approves 2026 budget with no tax increase
The final 2026 budget for the city of Washington does not include a tax increase.
Council unanimously adopted a $15.3 million spending plan Thursday. Millage remains at 5.53 mills for buildings. The millage for land is 38.71 mills.
Mayor JoJo Burgess credited staff and council members for their work on balancing the budget.
“Councilman Ken Westcott and the finance department made sure that we did some things throughout the year, like refinancing the debt, to prolong what is happening until we get an influx of money,” Burgess said Friday. “The way they worked their magic this year was very good for us. Plus, we had a couple of deals that allowed us to put some money into the coffers.”
He was pleased that the city was able to keep taxes steady, especially after the 2025 spending plan included a 1.5-mill increase.
Council also approved a motion to enter into a licensing agreement with WashPa Outdoors Co. for the use of a vacant parcel of land behind the Freedom Transit center for the Firefly Gardens community garden. Firefly Gardens is a 100-by-100-foot tract of land that houses a greenhouse and gardens – among them vegetable, herb, and a native plant demonstration garden – and a performance area.
“That’s us giving back to the community and organizations doing good things at spots where we really wouldn’t have our eye on,” Burgess said.
Council also approved a motion to award survivor pension benefits to Nicole Scott, widow of firefighter Mike Scott, who died Dec. 26, 2024, at the age of 44. The benefits are not paid by the city but through the workers compensation fund.
“This is just the beginning of things because of some of the state aid that comes in when a first responder loses their life. It’s going to open more doors for her to make sure that her family is financially taken care of in the future,” Burgess said. “To be able to do something to lift up and take a little burden off of that family is always something great to do.”
Also unanimously approved by council were the following 2026 Community Development Block Grant funding and projects: home rehabilitation, $100,000; demolition, $100,000; Washington Park Pool upper parking lot paving, $72,525, and street paving, $255,000.
The street paving project breaks down as follows: Shannon Street to Ridge Avenue to Pine Street, $85,000; Hallam Avenue to Ridge Avenue, $85,000, and Elm Street to Ridge Avenue to Pine Street $85,000.