Montgomery County commissioners approve 2026 budget, set mill levy at 44.999

Montgomery County commissioners voted Sept. 8 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget, setting the county mill levy at 44.999, up from 41.712. The three commissioners voted yes after a public hearing that drew more than an hour of public comment about rising property taxes and county services.

The decision followed remarks from County Administrator Jonathan Boo and a lengthy public comment period in which residents urged the commission to look for cuts, consider a county sales tax, or delay the vote. Commissioner Klubine said she would base her vote on what she judged “best for Montgomery County,” and commissioners joined to approve the budget.

The approved budget increases projected net county expenditures from $30,425,469 in 2025 to $34,244,648 in 2026 — an increase commissioners described as roughly $2 million. Boo told the commission that the proposed levy reflects several factors, including pay adjustments intended to fill vacant positions, higher operating costs such as fuel and aggregate for roads, match requirements for grants and increased costs for required support…