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Miami County commissioners prepare revenue-neutral vote, budget would fund roads and raises
Summary
At an Aug. 27 study session, Miami County staff briefed commissioners on a proposed 2026 budget that would exceed the revenue-neutral rate and direct new dollars to road maintenance, equipment and a 4% employee pay increase; the Board will consider formal votes and public hearings at the afternoon meeting.
Miami County commissioners on Aug. 27 reviewed a proposed 2026 county budget that staff said would require votes on the revenue-neutral rate and include increased funding for roads, equipment and county staff pay.
County administration told commissioners the draft budget would raise total appropriations by about 5% for 2026 and move the county’s overall mill levy to roughly 36.755 mills. Staff flagged three main increased allocations: $750,000 added for asphalt road maintenance, $750,000 for road and bridge equipment purchases, and $200,000 for gravel road infrastructure. The budget also includes a 4% across-the-board pay increase for county employees; staff said the dollar value of that increase will be added to the public materials before the afternoon meeting.
County staff said the revenue-neutral hearing and votes follow state procedure: the Board must open a public hearing on the revenue-neutral rate and, if it wishes to exceed that rate, take a roll-call resolution vote inside the hearing, then close the hearing and reopen for the full budget hearing and adoption. Staff warned commissioners to avoid mill-levy or dollar amounts when making motions, because the formal roll-call vote must reference the resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate rather than specific levy language.
Why it matters: staff described the budget as addressing long-running infrastructure needs and higher operating costs. Staff identified recurring “anchors” that strain county finances, including courthouse and jail operating costs, and rising insurance and utility expenses. Commissioners and staff discussed how prior years’ decisions (including recent revenue-neutral years) and rising expenses limit flexibility. Commissioners and staff said the budget discussions will include the county, two special fire districts and light districts where applicable, each handled with the same revenue-neutral hearing process.
What happens next: staff circulated a one-page briefing for the public and commissioners and said updated figures (including the exact dollar impact of the 4% pay increase and a multi-year percentage chart) would be provided before the afternoon meeting. The Board is scheduled to consider the revenue-neutral resolution and the budget at the Aug. 27 afternoon session; a formal vote will be recorded there.
Sources: Presentation and summary by Lucas Mellinger, assistant county administrator, and procedural guidance from the county clerk and county finance staff during the Aug. 27 study session.
