Cherokee County commissioners adopt $438.6 million budget, sign off on zoning and procurement items

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 adopted a $438,576,565 fiscal year 2026 consolidated budget, approved county contracts and grants and acted on a string of planning and zoning requests at a regularly scheduled meeting in Cherokee Hall.

The budget adoption and a series of unanimous procurement approvals were the most consequential administrative votes of the evening. Commissioners also split 3–2 to deny a freestanding sign variance and voted 4–1 to approve a special-use permit and exceptional variance for a package-liquor store at Bells Ferry Road.

Why it matters: The adopted budget includes a 3% employee cost-of-living adjustment and increases for health insurance and other benefits but did not raise county tax rates for maintenance-and-operations or fire district taxes. The package-store approval implements a county ordinance that created six alcohol districts after a voter referendum earlier this year. Several zoning items will return to the board for further review or were postponed for additional work with applicants.

Most important actions (selected)

- Budget adoption: Approved unanimously. FY2026 consolidated budget: $438,576,565. Board discussion noted the budget includes a 3% COLA, $5 million for employee COLA, $5.3 million for health insurance increases, and that it does not change the county tax rates. Chairman Harry Johnston said, "For all $438,000,000 seems like a lot…