Madison Township approves $4.9M budget for 2026

MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township trustees approved a $4,931,544.17 budget for 2026 during a special meeting Monday afternoon.

Trustee Tom Craft was unable to attend the meeting, but the remaining trustees approved it by majority vote. The new budget increases spending by $288,687.43 from last year.

Trustees first passed a temporary budget in December, as required under Ohio law. Townships must adopt a temporary plan by Dec. 31 and finalize a permanent budget by the end of March.

$4.9M budget reflects personnel and operating expenses

Officials reviewed updated financial data from 2025 before finalizing the 2026 budget.

The Richland County Auditor’s Office estimated the township will bring in $3,614,517 in revenue for 2026. The township also carries over $4,397,812.09 available for appropriation.

Rhodes noted in the permanent budget she put together two columns showing personal services 100 and 200 object codes and all other spending.

“The personal services 100 and 200 object codes is all of our benefits and salaries,” she added. “The Madison Township total for that was $3,132,210.

“All other expenses which is your repairs and maintenance, capital expenses, operating supplies, rents, leases and more is $1,799,334.17.”

Those totals equal the approved 2026 budget of $4,931,544.17.

A significant portion of the budget is allocated to fire and EMS services.

Trustee Dan Fletcher noted it is common for the fire operations to make up the majority of the budget.

“Yeah it’s pretty normal,” he added. “They have the chief, 24/7 and 365 days a year of operations with two full-timers and part-timers.”

Fire and EMS funding

The 2026 permanent appropriations show Madison Township increased funding for both fire and EMS operations compared to 2025.

• Fire education: Funding remains the same at $1,000 for training services and other expenses.
• Fire operations: 2026 appropriations total $2,343,623, compared to $2,098,474.09 in 2025. This includes salaries, Medicare, insurance, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund contributions, training services, rents and leases, repairs and maintenance, electricity and more.
• Fire Levy 1.75: 2026 appropriations total $421,517.90, compared to $320,127.49 in 2025. This covers tax collection fees, contracted services, machinery, equipment, furniture, small tools, minor equipment and more.
• EMS: 2026 appropriations total $690,803.58, compared to $511,818 in 2025. This includes salaries, Social Security, workers’ compensation, training services, operating supplies and more.

Road district and bridges

The township set the 2026 permanent appropriation for the road district at $260,000, compared to the 2025 permanent appropriation of $484,866.74.

Rhodes noted the road district is strictly for paving projects. She noted they had Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) funding that year, which increased the amount.

The 2026 estimated revenue is $260,000 and balances available for appropriation at $108,553.42.

The 2026 appropriation for roads and bridges was set at $370,628.36, compared to the 2025 permanent appropriation of $307,379.27.

According to the 2026 budget, the estimated revenue for 2026 is $294,000, with a carryover of $672,211.53, bringing the total available for appropriation to $966,211.53.