Kosciusko County Council adopts 2026 budgets, approves grants and appropriations; tax rate to be finalized by state

Kosciusko County Council adopted the county budget for the year ending Dec. 31, 2026, and approved a series of grant applications, appropriation adjustments and interlocal agreements during its meeting. The council also adopted the Kosciusko Solid Waste Management budget earlier in the agenda.

The council read and adopted the county budget resolution as presented: the total adopted budget figure announced in the meeting was $89,532,920, with a total adopted tax levy of $22,000,800 and a stated tax rate of 0.2694. Council members noted the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) will review the submission and is expected to adjust the rate; an estimated tax rate of 0.1942 was circulated to the council and staff said the DLGF will make final calculations after formal adoption.

On the solid waste matter the council adopted the Kosciusko Solid Waste Management budget: total adopted budget $517,382, tax levy $297,734, and an adopted tax rate of 0.0035 as read into the record.

The council adopted the salary ordinance for 2026, including a 2% increase for county employees, and directed staff to prepare a January salary‑ordinance amendment to implement the probation stipend approved in the prior vote.

Council members approved multiple highway and infrastructure grant actions after staff presentations. Highway Superintendent Steve Moroney asked the council to approve an additional appropriation of $28,000 for an ACT/Gamma railroad crossing grant (100% reimbursable), and to approve the county’s application for the 2026 Community Crossings matching grant totaling $2,057,063.15 (presented as $2,000,000.57,063.15 in the packet); he said Kosciusko’s local match would be $1,028,531.58 (50%). The council also approved a financial‑commitment letter for the Community Crossings application, noting funds would come from the Motor Vehicle…