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Treasurer and comptroller report steady revenues, ARPA spending and budget outlook
Summary
Treasurer Hill and Comptroller Sherman reported higher sales tax and property tax receipts, ARPA expenditures, and a proposed $128 million 2026 budget with labor costs comprising about 53% of county spending.
Washington County Treasurer Hill and Comptroller Sherman reported the county's recent financial results to the Finance and Budget Committee, highlighting steady revenues and outlining the 2026 budget framework the county will take to the Quorum Court.
Hill reported that general‑fund spending and receipts were trending normally for the season, that the county began the reporting period with about $87.4 million and ended the month with about $84.0 million in the bank. He noted a timing artifact in payroll posting that made one payroll line look negative for a day. Hill also reported $1.2 million in September ARPA expenditures related to the EOC and COVID mitigation projects and that ARPA obligations totalled about $46.4 million with roughly $40.9 million expended so far.
On taxes and major revenue lines, Hill said county general property tax collections were stronger than the prior year, and the sales tax returned about $965,000 for the month, a 6.7% increase year‑over‑year; year to date sales tax growth was around 5.6%. The quarter‑cent jail tax yielded nearly $1.5 million and was up 7.7% over the comparable period last year.
Comptroller Sherman said the county's unappropriated general fund reserve stood at about $3,000,000 and previewed elements of the 2026 budget staff is developing. Sherman said the proposed 2026 total budget request is roughly $128 million, an increase of about 1.7% over 2025, with county general at about $56 million (a 6.7% increase). Sherman said labor remains the largest component at about $68 million (roughly 53% of the proposed total), including retirement and health‑insurance contributions. The comptroller flagged workers' compensation premium pressures, noting an experience modifier move that will raise premiums, and she said the healthcare fund remains under active monitoring.
Committee members asked for additional details about workers' compensation experience modifiers, ARPA spending, and several line items. Sherman said she will circulate updated budget spreadsheets and talking papers and that committee questions may be sent to her to inform the draft 2026 budget that will come before Quorum Court.
