Newton County unveils $149 million proposed FY2026 budget; public hearing set for June 10

Newton County Vice Chair called a special meeting to order and Finance Director Britney White presented the county’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, an all-funds plan she said totals about $149,000,000, with a general fund proposal of roughly $112,000,000. The board scheduled a public hearing for the proposed budget at 7 p.m. June 10 and planned final adoption for the regular meeting on June 17.

The proposal, White told commissioners, “is a proposed budget… It is not a budget that has been voted on and is in stone. It is subject to change.” County officials emphasized the numbers shown are estimates because the final tax digest is not yet available.

The budget presentation matters because it would raise the county’s estimated millage rate to about 9.3 mills, which the finance director said would increase property taxes by an estimated $175 on a $300,000 home. Significant cost drivers in the general fund include a compensation and classification study that would add about $3,700,000, an updated health insurance cost estimate that added $1,500,000, and contingency for new positions to support SPLOST projects and expanded public works mowing and litter crews.

White summarized the all-funds and general-fund breakdowns: the general fund represents about 75.3% of the total budget; other funds include the water fund, solid waste, fire district, grants and E-911. By function, public safety is the largest single area of spending (about 46% of all funds and 51.2% of the general fund). She listed planned one-time items in the proposal, including $1,000,000 for bridge repairs, $750,000 for culvert replacements and $245,000 for a virtual server upgrade, and she said the county has moved Newton Beautiful into the solid waste fund.

On revenues, White said taxes are the largest single source (about $94,000,000), and the county plans to use about $4,000,000 in fund balance in the proposal. She also cited increased collections and an estimated $400,000 rise in insurance premium tax receipts.

Commissioners pressed for more explanation on several topics. Commissioner Long urged additional cuts, saying “We gotta cut, cut, cut, cut, cut,” and asked staff to compare budgets to actual 2024 spending rather than prior-year budget requests. Commissioner Edwards and others questioned details of a debt payment labeled ABM debt. White said the ABM borrowing financed countywide facility upgrades and that the county borrowed roughly $14,000,000; she said the loan's interest rate is 2.69% and that the county expects the payoff schedule to extend to about 2032. A county staff member explained the county issued bonds to pay for the ABM project years ago and that, although there is dissatisfaction with some work performed, the county remains obligated to repay the lender under the bond terms.

Several commissioners discussed SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) and how the current SPLOST allocation was designated for specific projects — notably the Brown Bridge Road project — leaving less generic paving money available for other unincorporated-area roads. Commissioners noted that some paving and maintenance costs previously expected to be covered through SPLOST will instead come from the general fund in this budget cycle.

No budget vote was taken. The board moved to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel and potential litigation matters; a motion and second were recorded and the chair announced “none opposed,” after which the board entered executive session.

Next steps: the county will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY2026 budget at 7 p.m. June 10 and is scheduled to consider adoption at its June 17 regular meeting. The presentation and the full proposed budget book are available on the county’s website under the transparency tool and finance department pages, and a QR code with the budget was made available at the meeting for residents.