Franklin County commissioners flag $2.5 million supplemental request as residents raise concerns about a projected 2026 deficit

Commissioners with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners discussed next steps for the county’s 2026 budget after a resident described a projected shortfall and declining reserve balances.

A resident from Fayetteville, Valerie Jordan, told the board she reviewed the county’s preliminary 2026 general fund numbers and said they show $57.7 million in revenue and $56.7 million in expenses, leaving an anticipated deficit of about $1.9 million. Jordan said the county’s unrestricted reserve balance was $15.7 million at the start of fiscal 2025 and is forecast at $11.7 million for 2026, a decline from about 88 days of reserves to about 76 days. She also said the fiscal department forecast a $557,000 drop in investment income for 2026.

“County taxpayers are still responsible for paying the deficit costs,” Jordan said during public comment. “When does this deficit get made up?”

Nut graf: Commissioners and county staff framed the shortfall as a key input to ongoing budget work and indicated they would use a supplemental appropriation to bridge planning while the county finalizes its 2026 budget.

During the agenda item on the 2026 budget, Carrie (county staff) introduced Teresa Beckner, the county’s chief fiscal officer, and asked the board for direction on a supplemental appropriation. One commissioner said a supplemental request of $2.5 million “is the number that’s going to be fair” and another commissioner said that figure was consistent with prior-year practice. Commissioners indicated they would support preparing the budget with a roughly $2.5 million supplemental appropriation while continuing routine forecasting and refinement.

Discussion and context: Beckner and staff previously presented a fiscal update and a 2025 forecast to the board. Commissioners praised the fiscal department’s use of a target-based budget approach. At the meeting the board did not adopt a final 2026 budget; staff sought direction to prepare budget materials with a supplemental amount in mind.

What was and was not decided: The board signaled support for preparing the 2026 budget using a $2.5 million supplemental appropriation but did not adopt final budget figures at the meeting. No tax rate changes or specific expenditure cuts were approved at this session.

Ending: County staff said the earlier-than-usual timetable would help with preparation; staff will return with subsequent budget materials and formal appropriation requests as required by county procedure.