Washington town adopts higher tax levy to fund safety, infrastructure

Electors in the the Town of Washington supported the adoption of the 2026 budget which includes a planned increase in the property tax levy to fund rising public safety expenses and long-term highway maintenance.

The town clerk presented the budget which sets the allowable property taxes at $879,420, an increase of $17,734 (or about 2.06%) over the 2025 levy. The town’s total expected revenues for the year are approximately $1.73 million, designed to cover nearly $1.73 million in total expenses.

The budget reflects a focus on necessary service and infrastructure maintenance, with salary and public safety costs driving most of the increases.

Key spending

The Town’s budget is primarily concentrated in three areas: Public Safety, Transportation, and General Government.

Transportation (Roads & Equipment) came in at a cost of $655,288.

The single largest jump in this category is for Highway Wages, increasing from $225,000 (estimated 2025) to $250,000 in 2026. Health insurance costs for highway staff also saw a dramatic hike, rising to $50,000 from a budgeted $33,377 in 2025.

Meanwhile, the town has significantly reduced the annual budget for resurfacing and repair work to $186,638, down from the estimated $350,000 spent in 2025. However, this is offset by large carryover funds of $228,434 specifically designated for road projects.

Public Safety (Fire and EMS) costs $392,152 for 2026. This department is seeing an overall budget increase to cover rising contractual costs for essential services.

Funding for the Fire Commission has seen a notable increase to $167,645 for 2026, as did the budget for ambulance services which has been increased to $126,639. The budget for the CWDG is maintained at $59,368, indicating continued focus on these external projects.

Costs for General Government (Administration) are $217,426. The largest proportional increase in salaries belongs to the Assessor, whose budget is increased by $9,000 to $52,400.

The salaries for the clerk and treasurer are both increased by approximately $1,500 each, reflecting rising administrative and operational demands. The salaries for the chairman and supervisors remain unchanged from 2025 budget levels.

Revenue and funding

While the property tax levy provides the largest portion of revenue, the town is also benefiting from increased intergovernmental aid, including State Highway Aids. This funding is set to increase to $213,040, providing critical non-tax revenue for the road maintenance budget.

The budget includes $27,727 in new LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) funds, a significant boost to highway funding. In addition, the town projects a strong year for tourism, holding its Room Tax Revenue projection steady at $350,000.

It also maintains a healthy reserve, with a total carryover balance of $531,960 earmarked for future projects, including capital improvements for the town shop, equipment, and the large balance for blacktopping.

The full 2026 budget is posted on the town website at town-of-washington.org/wp-content/uploads/2026_Budget_Adopted.pdf.