At the November 17th meeting, Worthington City Council held a final check-in on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and the 2026–2030 Capital Improvements Program before their scheduled vote on December 1st. The discussion covered adjustments to operating costs, increased funding for local veterans, and a proposal to update council compensation for the first time in nearly a decade.
Budget Adjustments and Deficit Context
City Manager Robyn Stewart outlined several updates to the proposed budget since its initial presentation, including finalized health insurance numbers for employees, updated costs for dispatching services through the Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Center (NRECC), and an anticipated increase in the city's HVAC maintenance contract currently out for bid.
Finance Director Scott Bartter provided context for the city's projected $2.2 million deficit for 2026, explaining that the deficit is largely driven by significant one-time expenses rather than structural failures. Key expenditures include:
- $1.7 million transfer to the Capital Improvement Fund, which includes $500,000 in additional transfers beyond the normal formula plus $1.2 million for a new fire engine
- $500,000 allocated for future housing strategies
- $100,000 for economic development consulting, specifically to help frame out public infrastructure investments supporting the Northeast Area Plan
Bartter noted the city is projecting a $1.8 million deficit for 2025 when excluding the $4 million cash funding set aside for the outdoor pool project. Looking ahead, the five-year forecast shows projected deficits of $1.5 million in 2027, $2 million in 2028, and $2.2 million in 2029.
Stewart added that revenue growth projections have been intentionally conservative due to the anticipated loss of a major employer, while standard expenditure growth continues. The city has time over the next few years to monitor actual trends and adjust accordingly.
One-Time Strategic Investments
Beyond addressing the deficit, Stewart emphasized several strategic one-time allocations designed to position the city for long-term success:
The $500,000 housing strategies allocation reflects Council's interest in pursuing housing initiatives, though specific strategies remain to be determined. The $100,000 economic development investment aims to more fully implement recommendations from the Northeast Area Plan, particularly around public infrastructure in that corridor.
The budget also includes funding to bring in consulting help for code changes expected to follow the Worthington Together comprehensive planning initiative, with recommendations anticipated in mid-2026.
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Veterans Alliance Receives One-Time Increase
Council reached unanimous consensus to increase the allocation for the Veterans Alliance by $5,000 for 2026, bringing their total to $15,000. While there was initial discussion about offsetting this increase against their 2027 allocation—a swap the organization had offered—council members agreed to grant the increase without strings attached.
Council members noted several factors supporting the decision: the Veterans Alliance is in just its second year of receiving city funding, receives the smallest allocation among community groups, and has more limited fundraising options compared to other organizations. Councilmember Pete Bucher observed that since the request was for a relatively small amount rather than a substantial percentage of their grant, approving it without conditions made sense.
Council Compensation Update
For the first time since 2017, Council discussed updating compensation for City Council members. Currently set at $7,920 per year, Worthington's council pay is generally lower than almost all comparable suburban communities in central Ohio.
Staff presented a proposal to tie council salaries to the amount required for full service credit in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), which increases modestly by approximately 1.75% annually. Several other suburban communities already use this approach.
Under state law, council members cannot vote to increase their own salaries during their current terms. Because Worthington has staggered terms, any increase taking effect in 2026 would only apply to the four newly-elected seats, while three mid-term seats would wait until 2028.
Councilmember David Robinson, who will not be returning and could speak objectively, supported delaying implementation until January 2028 so all members would receive the increase simultaneously: "It seems counterintuitive to me to offer the increase to new members coming in and then existing members to not get it."
President Pro Tem Beth Kowalczyk agreed, noting that indexing the salary to the OPERS credit was the original intent when compensation was last adjusted.
Council also discussed maintaining the Council President's salary at 15% higher than regular members to account for additional responsibilities—the current proportional spread. Legislation for these changes will be introduced at the December 1st meeting for public comment, with a vote expected December 8th.
Protecting the City's Bond Rating
Council President Rachael Dorothy emphasized the importance of maintaining the city's triple-A bond rating, noting that debt service payments must be paid before payroll. Defaulting on bond payments would severely impact the city's ability to borrow at favorable rates, affecting all future projects and potentially returning to difficulties experienced around 2010.
Council members commended Finance Director Bartter and his team for navigating a complex fiscal environment, including uncertainty at the state level regarding potential tax eliminations.
Next Steps
The 2026 operating budget ordinance and 2026–2030 CIP resolution are scheduled for public hearing and vote on December 1st. The council compensation ordinance will be introduced December 1st with a vote expected December 8th.
Residents interested in reviewing the proposed budget can find detailed information in the meeting packet on the city's website.