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Houston County sets preliminary levy at 7.905% and adopts proposed 2026 budget
Summary
After finance committee review, the Houston County Board preliminarily set the levy rate at 7.905 percent and adopted a resolution approving the proposed 2026 budget; commissioners said the preliminary levy can be lowered before the final December certification but cannot be increased.
County finance staff presented preliminary budget figures to the Houston County Board and recommended a preliminary levy increase; after discussion the board set the preliminary levy and adopted the county's proposed 2026 budget resolution.
Finance staff explained the county's revenue needs and fund-balance assumptions and walked commissioners through options tied to 6% and 7% levy scenarios. Commissioners discussed pension and wage pressures, contract obligations, and the effect of new construction on the property-tax capacity. One county official summarized the statutory constraint: once the preliminary levy is certified and mailed on the Truth-in-Taxation notices, the levy amount may be reduced but cannot be increased before final certification.
After discussion the board voted to set the preliminary levy at 7.905 percent (motion made and seconded) and later adopted Resolution 205-34 adopting the proposed 2026 budget as presented in the meeting packet, with updated numbers incorporated into the resolution.
Commissioners emphasized ongoing review and the possibility of lowering the levy before the final certification; they asked staff to provide updated information on new-construction tax capacity for the final levy calculation. Staff said the sheriff's contract and certain department expenditures had been included in the current figures and that additional adjustments would be considered before final adoption in December.
Outcome: board set the preliminary levy at 7.905% and adopted the proposed 2026 budget resolution; the numbers remain preliminary and may be revised downward before final certification.
