Jackson County staff present balanced 2025–26 budget; millage must be advertised as a tax increase

Jackson County commissioners were presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that county staff said is balanced and totals about $142 million when anticipated grants are included.

The presenter said the county will advertise the millage rate as a tax increase because state law requires that notice when property values rise, even though the county is not proposing to change the millage rate. County staff told commissioners the budget is balanced in large part by using approximately $1.5 million in carryover funds from the current fiscal year and by removing contingency and reserve funds from the county utility fund.

Why it matters: the move preserves services in the near term but leaves the utility fund with no reserves. Staff said restoring a reserve and contingency for the utility fund would require transferring about $365,000 from general revenues. Commissioners were asked to consider whether to restore some of that funding.

Staff also described department cost pressures baked into the draft budget, including a countywide $1,650 pay increase that adds roughly $450,000 and higher health-insurance costs the presenter estimated at about $400,000; staff said most departments are seeing roughly a 10–12% increase in salary-and-benefit costs for operations. The draft also includes a previously approved $16.50-per-employee line item.

On outside funding requests, staff recommended several reductions from applicants’ asks: Partners for Pets’ $10,000 request was recommended at $5,000; the Jackson County Economic Development Council request was recommended at $210,000 rather than the $230,000 requested; and the Tri-County Airport’s request of “over $21,000” was recommended to be funded at $2,000 rather than the larger ask. Staff said certain capital requests (for example, the TDC mosquito program and the Russ House) are paid from dedicated funds outside general revenue and will continue to be considered separately.

Capital projects: staff presented a consolidated “wish list” of capital improvement requests that would total about $5.7 million if every item were funded. Commissioners were asked to defer final decisions on capital outlay and special projects until the end of the fiscal year so carryover dollars are known.

Next steps: staff said major department heads (road and bridge, fire rescue, jail and others) will be available at a follow-up session to answer questions after commissioners review the book at home. No formal votes on the budget were taken during the presentation.

(Attribution: budget presentation and figures reported by county budget staff and county administrative staff during the Jackson County Board of Commissioners meeting.)