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County presents FY2026 proposed expense budget: $287.9 million and 79 new positions recommended
Summary
At an April 1 budget workshop county staff presented a proposed FY2026 general fund and special service district expense budget of $287.9 million, recommended 79 new positions and outlined major additions including funding for a new recreation center, police academy support and two fire stations.
County staff presented the FY2026 proposed general fund and special service district expense budget at the April 1 workshop, asking the board to review a recommended $287.9 million expense plan and noting revenue estimates were incomplete pending property valuation finalization.
The county manager’s budget presentation said the recommended FY2026 expense budget is $287.9 million, an increase of $28.2 million (10.9%) over the FY2025 adopted budget of $259.7 million. Staff said this proposal assumes keeping the current millage rate of 15.733 mills and identified three major additions for FY26: support for the North Mount Carmel Recreation Center, staffing and costs related to a fifth state court judge (positioning the judge to begin in January 2026), and preparation for opening two new fire stations in FY26 and FY27.
Staff listed several notable budget items included in the recommendation: roughly $1.7 million for critical-need personnel, $3.5 million for debt payments, $4.2 million for longevity and cost-of-living adjustments, $3.2 million for insurance and pension funding increases, $3.3 million for inmate medical and additional jail personnel, and $2.0 million for additional fire personnel for new stations. The presentation proposed 79 new positions total, 12 of which relate to staffing for a fifth state court judge.
Staff cautioned that revenue projections were not final and that department requests totaled $36.8 million in personnel/operating requests while the recommended additions totalled $9.8 million (staff recommended trimming requests by $27 million based on fiscal prudence and uncertainty). The county manager asked the board to allow staff to present the full revenue and combined budget at the April 15 workshop; public hearings are scheduled May 6 and May 28 with final adoption planned for late May.
Ending: Staff will return April 15 with updated revenue projections and a combined revenue/expense proposed budget; public hearings and adoption milestones are scheduled for May.
