Newton County adopts FY26 budget with estimated 8.6 mill rate

The Newton County Board of Commissioners on June 17 approved two resolutions formally adopting the countywide fiscal year 2026 budget and authorizing external appropriations, with an estimated millage rate of 8.6.

The budget, presented by Britney White, finance director, totals $143,600,000 and covers the general fund, special revenue, capital and enterprise funds. The adopted plan includes a $3.7 million compensation-and-class plan increase, a 14% health-insurance cost increase budgeted at $1.5 million, and a $1.75 million contingency for new positions. It also includes $1 million for Public Works bridge repairs, $750,000 for culvert replacements, $245,000 for a virtual server upgrade, and a $1,176,000 Huntington Bank debt payment related to energy upgrades with ABM. The County moved the Keep Newton Beautiful program from the general fund into the solid-waste fund under the new budget.

The county budget uses a $4,000,000 draw from fund balance and budgets an additional $400,000 in insurance premium tax revenue. White told the board the 8.6 mill estimate would increase county taxes by about $94 annually on a $300,000 home, and that the final rate depends on the completed tax digest.

Commissioner John Edwards moved to approve the resolutions; the motion was seconded and taken to a vote. Board discussion included a request from Commissioner Henderson to confirm when the county borrowed funds to pay ABM; staff said the loan vote occurred in 2016 and the records would be provided. County legal counsel clarified later in the meeting that Georgia law does not compel a commissioner to cast a vote and that an abstention is generally used only for conflicts of interest. Board members urged colleagues to avoid withholding votes as a routine practice.

The board voted to adopt the budget resolution and the external appropriations resolution. The first resolution's vote was recorded as approved with one commissioner later stating he would withhold his vote (characterized in the meeting as an abstention or failure to cast a vote); county counsel explained that withholding a vote is legally permissible though not recommended. The second resolution approving appropriations passed on a subsequent vote with the board recording the outcome as approved.

The budget documents presented to the board also show personnel services as the largest single expense at 66.1% of the general fund, with purchasing and contracted services at 16.8% and supplies at 10.9%. The county reported a general fund of $108,641,020 at adoption, a 9% increase from the prior year. Next steps discussed by staff include adopting the final millage rate once the tax digest is complete.

Officials said the resolutions complete the county'level adoption process; the board will set the final millage after the digest is certified.