Henry County proposes $51.4 million general fund, recommends 6.77 millage; sheriff seeks restoration of equipment funding

Henry County on Aug. 26 received a budget snapshot that recommends a $51,400,000 general fund for fiscal year 2025–26 and a proposed millage rate of 6.77, County OMB coordinator Ian Proverbs told the Board of County Commissioners. "We're recommending a general fund budget of $51,400,000, and that would then need a trim rate of 6.77. That millage would give us approximately $31,300,000 in ad valorem revenue," Proverbs said. The proposed millage is lower than last year—s 6.8102, he said.

The presentation included a roll-forward of major revenue and expense items: the county told commissioners the July final taxable value reported by the property appraiser was about $4.6 billion, a roughly 10.5% increase over the prior year, and new construction was listed at approximately $187.79 million. Proverbs said the state rollback rate is 6.6104. He also reported an anticipated Medicaid expense increase to the county of about $1,530,000, an increase of roughly 24.7% ($303,078) from last year.

The sheriff addressed the board during the budget discussion to press for partial restoration of his department—s funding requests. The sheriff asked commissioners to restore funding for an Axon contract, which he described as "an absolute necessity in law enforcement," saying the system "does everything ... evidence, body cameras, our interviews." Commissioners and staff discussed two sheriff capital items that had been reduced in the draft: $250,000 for the Axon system and $190,000 for replacement of the county telephone system. The sheriff told the board he believed the phone system might be deferred another year but urged restoring the Axon funding if possible.

County staff said capital transfers from the capital fund (Fund 304) include a planned $2,000,000 transfer to the County Transportation Trust Fund and other transfers totaling about $2,800,000, leaving a projected reserve of $1,300,000. The county—s disaster fund balance was shown at about $4,540,000. Proverbs noted the capital fund includes a $500,000 line for countywide repairs and a separate $225,000 allowance to add pavilions and limited decorative lighting across three county cemeteries (estimated at up to $50,000 per pavilion and about $25,000 per cemetery for lighting).

Proverbs also told commissioners the draft budget includes a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for all positions and one additional full-time equivalent in the BOCC office for a contract manager to oversee county contracts. He said the county had no single-audit findings for the 2023–24 audit beyond a late filing, and credited recent improvements to grants staff.

No formal millage decision or vote was taken at the workshop; staff said the figures will be refined and returned before the September hearings. Commissioners asked staff to model the revenue difference between the proposed 6.77 millage and the current rate, and Proverbs said that difference would be about $148,000.

Discussion and next steps focused on fine-tuning the draft between now and the next meeting so commissioners can consider trade-offs, including whether to restore portions of the sheriff—s requests, move additional capital transfers, or otherwise reduce the shortfall to meet a rollback. Staff said they would bring back updated numbers before the September hearings.

The workshop produced no formal motions or votes on the budget or millage; commissioners directed staff to return revised budget scenarios ahead of statutory TRIM deadlines.