Boone County board places FY2026 budget on 15-day layover after wide-ranging discussion on sheriff requests, servers and tax-assessment software

The Boone County Board on Wednesday voted to place the fiscal year 2026 budget on a required 15-day public layover while members and staff continued to negotiate new initiatives and capital priorities.

Becky Tobin, the county finance staff presenter, told the board “revenue for the General Fund, the levy includes a $350,000 increase to help pay the 15% increase in health insurance that went into effect on July 1.” Tobin also said the draft budget uses $2,500,000 in reserves: $1,500,000 would transfer to the capital fund for construction projects, $500,000 to a property maintenance fund for jail work and another $500,000 to a new Series 2026 bond fund to help cover high bond payments in 2027 and 2028.

The board’s discussion focused on how to allocate an available $534,586 in the general fund for new initiatives and capital. Tobin said that figure is the maximum the board could allocate for new initiatives out of the general fund and…