Pike County acknowledges proposed FY2026 budget, cites rising health premiums and limits on raises

Pike County Fiscal Court acknowledged receipt of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and discussed employee pay and rising insurance costs during the meeting.

Judge Jones summarized the proposed budget as largely similar to the previous year and noted it includes capital items. He told the court the proposal includes a 2% pay raise for county employees and that he had considered a 3% increase but raised caution because county health insurance premiums are rising sharply. "Our health insurance premiums are going up by 8 point almost 9%," he said, adding that the county faces higher monthly costs for employee health coverage.

Judge Jones and other officials discussed how built‑in pay raises affect long‑term obligations, including pension, Social Security and Medicare contributions and other employer costs. He warned that adding recurring salary increases without revenue growth could create budget pressure later, saying the county has seen mineral severance revenue fluctuate and that population and tax base declines complicate long‑term planning.

County staff noted the budget will be available for further discussion at upcoming meetings and asked commissioners to submit changes to the judge or county finance staff. The court voted unanimously to acknowledge receipt of the proposed budget after Commissioner Lewis moved and Commissioner Atkins seconded the motion.

Ending: The court acknowledged the proposed budget and set the item for future action; commissioners asked staff to continue evaluating personnel costs and the county's revenue outlook before final adoption.