Newton County hears updated FY2026 budget; residents urge limits on tax increases

Finance Director Bridal White presented an updated proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Newton County Board of Commissioners, outlining a countywide all‑funds total of $145,799,561 and an estimated millage rate of 8.6 that the presentation said would increase taxes by $94 on a $300,000 home.

White told the board the budget reflects revisions made after multiple discussions with commissioners in the prior week and that budget adoption is scheduled for the next regular board meeting at 7:00 on the seventeenth.

The proposed budget increases countywide spending 8.8% over the prior year and, in the general fund, includes a $3,700,000 comp-and-class adjustment, $1,500,000 for health insurance, $1,750,000 for additional positions tied in part to SPLOST projects, $1,000,000 for bridge repairs, $750,000 for culvert replacements, $245,000 for a virtual server upgrade, and $1,100,000 for ABM energy upgrade debt service. White said Keep Newton Beautiful was removed from the general fund and moved to the…