Jones County commissioners approve FY2026 budget with 2% COLA and merit increases

Jones County Board of Commissioners members voted Aug. 28 to adopt the county's fiscal year 2026 budget for the period Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2026.

The resolution, read aloud during the meeting, said the county administrator prepared and submitted a proposed budget that leaves most line items unchanged from FY25 but adjusts salary and FICA to reflect a 2% cost-of-living adjustment effective Sept. 1, 2025, and a 2% merit increase effective March 1, 2026. The health insurance line item was also adjusted to account for higher insurance rates, and the general fund contingencies line item will include funds sufficient to complete previously approved but unfinished capital projects. The resolution notes that funding for any other special requests must be approved by the board of commissioners.

County staff read the text of the resolution during the meeting and asked for a motion to adopt the budget. A motion to approve was made and seconded; the board approved the resolution by voice vote with members saying "aye." The meeting record shows no further discussion on the budget after the motion.

The action formally authorizes county staff to implement the FY2026 spending plan as described in the adopted resolution. The resolution text supplied at the meeting is the authoritative statement of the board's action; the meeting record does not attach line-item detail beyond the salary, FICA, health insurance and contingency provisions read into the record.

The meeting proceeded to consider millage rates after the budget vote and was then adjourned.