A presiding official opened Walton County’s second public hearing on the 2026 proposed budget and turned the presentation over to the county manager.

The county manager said, “This is a high level review of the fiscal year 2026 budget. The 2026 proposed budget is in the amount of 102,365,591 as compared to the FY '25 budget which was 317,500 showing an increase of 19,000,131 and $91.” The manager said the proposed budget would be balanced by keeping property taxes at the current mill rate, using additional revenue sources and reducing the county’s fiscal reserves.

The nut graf: the county manager emphasized that the proposed increase is driven primarily by public safety spending and pay raises that had already been authorized, and that the board and department heads have already worked through reductions and a recalculation of the defined benefits program to limit the increase.

In detail, the county manager described the proposed expenditure total for FY2026 as $102,365,591 and contrasted that with the FY2025 figure cited during the hearing. The manager said the budget increases reflect across-the-board public safety cost increases and previously authorized employee pay raises. The manager also said the county has undertaken “extensive cuts with the department heads, the board of commissioners,” and recalculated the defined benefits program to reduce costs.

There was an opportunity for public comment. The presiding official noted that one person had commented at an earlier session that morning and that no members of the public came forward in the afternoon session; the county waited at least five minutes before closing the hearing. The presiding official then closed the hearing, saying, “We have waited to see if any more of our citizens want to make a comment on the budget. We had 1 comment this morning and none this afternoon. So with that being said, we will close this budget.”

Meeting housekeeping: the presiding official also noted that county offices will be closed the following day for a legal holiday and thanked attendees for their time. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the public hearing.

Ending: With the public comment period concluded and no afternoon speakers, officials closed the second hearing; next steps for the budget — including any formal adoption votes or additional hearings — were not specified during this session.