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Walton County proposes roughly $102 million FY2026 budget; officials say no millage increase planned
Summary
County manager John Ward presented the Walton County proposed fiscal year 2026 budget—about $102 million—and said the proposal relies on current revenues and reserves rather than a millage-rate increase. Public comment focused on road maintenance and questions about costs tied to a new jail and staffing for public safety.
Walton County held a public hearing on its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which County Manager John Ward said has been narrowed to about $102 million and would be balanced using current revenues and reserves without a millage-rate increase.
The proposed budget, Ward said, reflects a large increase driven primarily by public-safety divisions and pay raises the commission approved to help retain staff. "We will use current revenue sources, the current millage rate, and reserves as our proposal to balance the budget," Ward said during the hearing.
The hearing drew at least one public commenter, Roger Hale of Youth Monroe Road, who said he moved to Walton County to retire and raised concerns about roadside maintenance: "I came out here to retire because I thought Walton County…
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