Franklin County proposes 1¢ real‑estate tax increase, 2% meals tax to balance $185M budget; schools seek $3.7M

Franklin County officials presented a proposed $185 million fiscal‑year 2026 budget at a public meeting, asking the Board of Supervisors to consider a 1‑cent increase in the real‑estate tax rate (from 43 to 44) and a 2% increase in the meals tax to cover rising operating and capital costs and to partially fund school priorities.

The proposal, delivered by Chris Whitlow, county staff presenter, emphasizes stabilizing recurring capital needs — ambulances, fire apparatus, vehicle replacement and school buses — while maintaining core services and phasing in school resource officers (SROs). "We present to you a balanced budget of a real estate property tax rate increase from 43 to 44," Whitlow said, framing the increase as one way to address structural capital shortfalls and inflationary pressures.

The county’s budget summary shows a proposed overall increase of about 3.5% year‑over‑year and a total budget in the neighborhood of $185,000,000. To reach that balance the proposal includes the 1¢ real‑estate rate increase and what Whitlow described as a modest meals‑tax change; Whitlow said the tax changes are intended to produce modest, recurring revenue while limiting the immediate burden on taxpayers.

Why this matters: county staff and school officials said state revenue is uncertain until the state budget is finalized later in the spring, leaving local officials to plan conservatively.…