Baker County commissioners vote to pursue county-administrator model, put change on May 2026 ballot

At a Sept. 8 special session, the Baker County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to accept an amendment to Order 97-229 that would make the three commissioner positions equal and begin a transition toward a county administrator form of government, and the board directed staff to place the change on the May 2026 primary ballot with a proposed effective date of Jan. 1, 2027.

The amendment would remove the current designation of a single full-time chair by making the three seats equal in duties and compensation and would enable the board to hire a county administrator to manage day-to-day operations; the sponsor said the change is intended to improve continuity, department management and administrative efficiency.

Commissioner (proposer), a Baker County commissioner, told colleagues the proposal "will improve efficiency, increase fairness in commissioner roles, create consistency in department management, and strengthen the county's ability to serve residents more effectively." The proposal as presented sets an effective date of Jan. 1,…