Columbia County adopts roughly $104 million fiscal 2026 budget; board plans future tax rollback

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on June 3 approved an annual budget for fiscal year 2026 that county staff described as balanced and conservative, adopting Resolution No. 20513.

County staff said the all‑funds budget totals roughly $104 million and assumes a later property tax rollback. "We had direction from the Board of Commissioners to not have any increases in the budget," said Ms. Reese, a county staff member who briefed the board. "We were extremely conservative with our estimates."

The county chief budget presentation said the general fund added 12 new positions and included some reclassifications; capital requests decreased from the prior year. Officials reported an overall budget increase of just over 3% compared with the prior year and said sales tax revenues were performing well locally.

Commissioner Malier moved to adopt the budget; the motion passed after a voice vote. County officials said all funds are balanced under the adopted plan and emphasized contingency reserves. The presentation noted the budget was prepared while accounting for recovery from recent storm impacts and with direction that the board would pursue a tax rollback at a later date.

The board did not itemize a date for the rollback during the meeting; staff described the rollback only as something that "will be done at a later date." The budget adoption authorizes county departments to operate under the approved appropriations for fiscal 2026 and does not itself change tax rates.