Crawford County commissioners approve 2026 budget and resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate
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Summary
By unanimous vote, the Crawford County Commission approved Resolution 2025-026 authorizing property tax levy above the revenue-neutral rate and adopted the county and fire-district budgets for 2026 after a public hearing with multiple residents expressing concern about recent property tax increases.
Crawford County commissioners voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2025-026 authorizing the county to levy a property tax exceeding the revenue-neutral rate and to adopt the county 2026 budget and associated fire-district budgets.
The action followed a public hearing during which several residents urged the commission to limit tax increases. Orlando Babalakwa, a Pittsburg-area resident, told commissioners, "I had 3 hikes, 3 property tax hikes, which is well over 50%." Several other speakers — including Bert Patrick, Edward Cullen, Kristen Collins and a resident identified as Lynn — described rapidly rising bills and questioned how valuation and mill levies are set.
County staff explained the appraisal and compliance context during the hearing. A staff member identified as Jim said the state grades each county’s appraisal program against local sales and has for the last two years told the county its values were too low. Jim said the county raised values to bring them into compliance with the state’s 90% sales-to-assessed-value threshold and that, "this year, we've got a letter this week stating that we are in compliance." He also told residents that those who believe their property valuation is incorrect may protest the value in March or pay under protest when they pay taxes in November/December.
The commission then moved to approve the resolution allowing the county to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. On a roll call recorded in the meeting, Commissioner Moody voted yes, Commissioner Blair voted yes, and Commissioner Wood voted yes; the motion carried 3-0. The meeting record shows passage of Resolution 2025-026 and adoption of the county’s 2026 budget. Commissioners also approved separate resolutions authorizing fire district levies to exceed their revenue-neutral rates and adopted 2026 budgets for Fire Districts 1, 2 and 3 (Resolutions 2025-027, 2025-028 and 2025-029), each carried by recorded aye votes from the three commissioners.
Why this matters: County budgets and mill levies determine the property-tax bills paid by homeowners and businesses; changes in appraisal methodology or compliance with state valuation standards can increase assessed values and therefore taxes even when local mill levies remain stable. Several residents at the hearing asked for clearer communication on what parts of their bill are set by the county versus city, school district or state.
Details and next steps: County staff noted the county’s middle (operating) mill levy has been reduced over recent years — staff referenced a past figure of about 51.052 (2017) and a current referenced number of about 46.59 — and emphasized that the state’s appraisal review drove recent value increases. The county advised residents to contact County Appraiser Zach Edwards (appraiser’s office is on the courthouse first floor) to review specific valuation concerns or to file formal protests when valuation notices are distributed in March.
The record shows the commission signed the approved budget documents; staff indicated the budget package also includes the fire district budgets. No formal amendments to the adopted budgets were recorded during the meeting.
