Adams County sets 2026 budget guidance: 4% for staff, 6% for most elected officials, 7% cap on departmental spending

Adams County commissioners and the county auditor voted to set preliminary budget guidance for 2026 that asks departments to budget a 4% wage growth, recommends a 6% increase for elected officials (excluding county council), and limits overall departmental spending growth to 7% over last year’s expenditures.

The guidance, approved after a motion, is intended to give department heads a starting point for building next year’s budgets. Auditor Tony said staff should treat the percentages as starting assumptions, not final raises: "that amount is what the departments are going to build into their budgets, but you guys decide ultimately what that is in your budget workshop and then public hearing and everything."

County leaders said the numbers were chosen to balance expected wage pressure with fiscal caution. Tony opened the discussion by noting national wage growth figures and suggested basing guidance on economic data: "the average wage growth has been nationally, and it was 3.2%." Commissioner John proposed a structure that would keep most departments from exceeding a 5% spending increase without coming to council but ultimately supported the motion setting the 7% cap and the 4% wage assumption. Commissioner Jim said he supported a lower employee raise of about 3% but favored a larger increase for elected officials, telling the panel he would support "a 5% increase for elected officials" during discussion before the group settled on 6% for most elected positions other than county council.

The council and staff discussed practical steps for departments to follow. Commissioner John and other members acknowledged that some departments—especially the highway department—may be outliers because multi-year projects and construction phases can spike spending. Highway-aligned department head Nate warned that bridge inspections and construction could cause single-year spending to rise substantially, noting an expected jump in inspection costs from roughly $17,000 to about $250,000 for a forthcoming phase.

Human resources and personnel issues also featured. Staff member Shannon requested that the 25¢ performance increment be made broadly eligible to full‑time employees (excluding part-time workers and elected officials who do not receive evaluations), saying the current eligibility rules have created division. The commissioners directed staff to continue discussing evaluation eligibility and indicated they may revisit the question in a separate wage review meeting.

The auditor and commissioners emphasized that the guidance will be revisited and refined in workshops and public hearings and that the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) guidance or legislative changes could alter final pay decisions. Tony reminded the group that if state guidance changes, the county could adjust raises during the budget process.

Outcome: A motion to adopt budget guidance — 4% wage assumption for staff, 6% for most elected officials excluding county council, and a 7% cap over prior-year expenditures — was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote.