Putnam County adopts $317.8 million 2025–26 budget, sets millage rates and adds anti-fraud CDBG policy

Putnam County commissioners adopted the county’s final 2025–26 budget and related tax rates during a public hearing on Sept. 23, 2025, approving a countywide operating millage rate equal to the rollback rate and a separate municipal service taxing unit rate for fire services, and adopting an updated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) policy that adds an anti‑fraud, waste and abuse provision.

The board voted to adopt a Putnam Countywide operating millage rate of 8.7418 — identified in the hearing as equal to the rollback rate — and a non‑countywide operating millage for the fire Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) of 1.1 mills, which the board noted is 0.01 percent higher than the rollback rate of 1.0987 mills. Commissioners also approved the final county budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totaling $317,760,263 and adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 capital improvement plan.

At the start of the hearing, county staff member Michelle Young offered to answer questions about the budget, saying she was “happy to take any questions” as the board completed its final hearing. A commissioner moved to adopt the countywide millage and the motion was seconded; the board then conducted a roll call and the chair announced the motion carried. Similar motions and roll‑call votes followed for the MSTU millage, the overall budget and the capital improvement plan.

On the consent agenda, commissioners agreed to amend an earlier CDBG policy adoption to include a one‑page Putnam County Anti‑Fraud, Waste and Abuse Policy dated Sept. 23, 2025. A commissioner moved approval of the CDBG update with the added anti‑fraud page; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

There were no members of the public who spoke during the advertised public hearing on the millage and budget. Ahead of the votes, a county official reiterated that the three millage motions (countywide, MSTU and the aggregate rate language) were being handled as separate paragraphs but were part of a single resolution to be signed by the board chair.

The meeting closed after brief commissioner remarks and an announcement that the meeting was adjourned.

Votes at a glance

• Adopt final countywide operating millage (FY 2025–26): motion moved by an unnamed commissioner; second not specified in the audio. Outcome: approved (roll call; unanimous ‘Aye’ recorded). Adopted rate: 8.7418 (stated as equal to the rollback rate). Note: motion described as the first motion to pass a resolution adopting the final millage for fiscal year 2025–26.

• Adopt non‑countywide operating millage for fire MSTU (FY 2025–26): motion moved; second not specified. Outcome: approved (roll call). Adopted rate: 1.1 mills (stated as same as last year; noted as 0.01% higher than rollback of 1.0987 mills).

• Adopt final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 (all funds): motion moved and seconded; roll call approved. Outcome: approved. Adopted total: $317,760,263.

• Adopt final fiscal year 2025–26 capital improvement plan: motion moved and seconded; roll call approved. Outcome: approved.

• Amend CDBG policy to include Putnam County Anti‑Fraud, Waste and Abuse Policy (dated 09/23/2025): motion moved and seconded; roll call approved. Outcome: approved. The board directed that the anti‑fraud page be added into the appropriate location within the CDBG policy packet.

(All outcomes above are recorded in the meeting transcript as approved by roll call; specific individual vote attributions beyond recorded ‘Aye’ responses were not provided in the transcript.)

Ending

With no public speakers and no further questions recorded, the board adjourned the hearing after completing the votes. A brief, non‑agenda comment by a commissioner invited colleagues and residents to a courthouse‑lawn event noted earlier that weekend; no policy actions resulted from that remark.