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Newton County presents revised FY2026 proposed budget; residents urge tax restraint
Summary
Finance director Britney White presented a revised FY2026 proposed budget that lowers a prior draft and estimates an 8.6 millage rate; public commenters and commissioners pressed for restraint, clarity on SPLOST-funded positions and protections for seniors. Budget adoption is scheduled for the board's next regular meeting.
Britney White, Newton County finance director, presented an updated proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 and said staff revised figures after “multiple discussions” with commissioners. The countywide budget total was presented as $145,799,561, an 8.8% increase over the prior year; White said the updated estimated millage rate is 8.6, which she said would add about $94 annually on a $300,000 home.
The revised proposal includes specific new general fund additions, White said: $3,700,000 for compensation and classification adjustments; $1,500,000 for health insurance increases; $1,750,000 for additional positions (many tied to SPLOST projects); $1,000,000 for bridge repairs and $750,000 for culvert replacements in Public Works; $245,000 for a virtual server upgrade; and a $1,100,000 debt-service payment related to an ABM energy upgrade paid to Huntington Bank. White also noted that Keep Newton Beautiful was moved from the General Fund to the Solid Waste Fund for FY2026.
The presentation called for a $4,000,000 use of fund balance, a $400,000 increase in LOST collections, and a $400,000 increase in…
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