WARREN — City council passed a resolution opposing proposed federal budget cuts for fiscal year 2026 that would eliminate various funding programs that benefit Warren residents.

Council passed by a unanimous emergency vote at their meeting Wednesday a resolution opposing the elimination of funding for such programs as Community Development Block Grant, HOME investment partnerships, clean drinking water, state revolving loan funds and other federal funding sources.

Warren Community Development Director Michael Keys said President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating such programs as part of the federal budget bill.

“A lot of programs benefit from these funds such as street resurfacing, housing demolition and assistance to nonprofits. We want to keep these programs in place. They need to understand the importance of these programs,” Keys said.

He said communities across the state and nation are passing similar resolutions. Keys said Trumbull County commissioners also passed a resolution because many of the programs benefit low-to-moderate income families and help with affordable housing and housing rehabilitation.

“These are areas of concern for us,” Keys said.

Keys said Warren is fine for receiving money for 2025, but it’s the 2026 funding that is in jeopardy. He said he does not plan for projects more than a year in advance and projects being worked on now will be finished.

Councilman Ronald White, D-7th Ward, said he is concerned about the federal budget cuts.

“Not getting these funds will be detrimental to our community and something we need to take a look at,” he said.

“I am sure cities throughout this country are at meetings about this just as we are. We need to oppose this because it will be detrimental to our city,” Councilman Michael O’Brien, D-at Large, said.

Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, said this is local residents’ money being sent to the federal government and it is returned to the city to meet the needs of its residents.

“It is vital to sustaining a city like Warren. I hope many other cities and townships send copies of resolutions like this one to the federal government,” Rucker said.

“This is unacceptable and we need to stand up,” Councilman Andrew Herman, D-2nd Ward, said.

Mayor Doug Franklin said the funding for the CDBG program and others is like a lifeline.

“This is our money that should be sent back home to us to make our city better for everyone, especially those who struggle. These funds are for nonprofits that provide crucial services for our residents. It helps us also improve our infrastructure such as streets and waterlines and make Warren a better place to live,” Franklin said.

He said with no funding for the programs, there will be less money to invest in neighborhoods and fewer resources to help vulnerable residents.

“These would be detrimental cuts to our community. I thank council for standing up and saying ‘no’ to these cuts,” Franklin said.

He said he is glad other communities across the nation are joining in the fight.

Keys said the resolution will be sent to state officials to ask them to vote against the federal budget bill that would eliminate the programs.

In other business, council approved seeking a $49,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Natureworks grant for an inclusive and handicapped accessible playground equipment and the surface underneath it.