Township Freezes Town Levy, Road District Seeks Increase for Fleet Updates

Washington Township Board of Trustees Meeting | Nov. 2025

Article Summary: The Washington Township Board of Trustees approved a plan to keep the 2025 Town Levy flat by reallocating funds to cover a requested increase from the Community Building Board. Conversely, the Road District signaled a need for a 4.75% levy increase to address rising material costs and the replacement of aging trucks.

Washington Township Tax Levy Key Points:

• Zero Dollar Increase: The 2025 Town Levy will remain the same total dollar amount as 2024.

• Internal Reallocation: To accommodate a $3,000 funding increase for the Community Building, the board lowered levies for the Town, General Assistance, and Insurance funds.

• Road District Request: The Highway Commissioner requested a 4.75% increase for the Road & Bridge Levy to cover rising paving costs and vehicle replacement.

• Equipment Costs: A new truck is estimated to cost approximately $300,000 to replace models dating back to 1997.

The Washington Township Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, voted unanimously to set the 2025 Town Levy at the same dollar amount as the previous year, ensuring no tax increase for the Town portion of the bill.

The decision involved financial maneuvering to accommodate a request from the Community Building Board, which asked that their levy be increased from $90,000 to $93,000. To grant this request without raising the overall tax burden, the Township Board agreed to lower the Town, General Assistance, and Insurance levies by a combined total of $3,000.

“The Board agreed this was a satisfactory solution to not raising the overall levy,” the minutes stated. Clerk Joe Burgess will prepare the formal ordinance for approval at the December meeting.

Road and Bridge Levy Increase
Separately, Highway Commissioner Mike Smith presented a request to increase the 2025 Road & Bridge Levy by 4.75% over the previous year. Smith attributed the need for additional funds to the continued rising costs of fuel, labor, and materials.

Smith reported that it now costs nearly $200,000 to pave one mile of road. He also highlighted the urgent need to modernize the department’s fleet, noting the Road District currently operates three trucks that are from 1997.

“Those trucks will eventually need to be replaced,” Smith said, adding that a new truck with proper specifications would cost approximately $300,000.

The board will review and formally vote on the Road District Levy ordinance at the December meeting.