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Monroe County auditor reports ~$9.4M gap in preliminary 2026 budget; council starts multi‑week review
Summary
Auditor Bree Gregory told councilors the county’s preliminary 2026 requests exceed projected revenue by about $9.4 million and outlined the multi‑week review process for departmental budgets.
Monroe County Auditor Bree Gregory opened the County Council’s Aug. 26 budget work session with a high‑level overview of 2026 revenue and expenditures, telling councilors that the preliminary requests from departments exceed anticipated revenue by roughly $9.4 million.
Gregory said the county’s anticipated revenue for 2026 is $127,000,655 and total requested budgets were approximately $137,000,000. She listed documents available to the public, including revenue forecasts and worksheets, and said that some internal working papers were not being published.
Council President Crossley reminded departments that the council’s review over the next several weeks is not final approval of the 2026 budget. Instead, councilors will examine increases, decreases and specific requests and may recommend adjustments or additional appropriations. Gregory said departments that wish staff assistance on prioritization and cuts could request recommendations from the auditor’s office.
The council established time limits for department presentations and directed staff to stay on budget topics during question periods. Crossley said departments should be prepared to explain increases and been told to limit off‑topic discussion.
Why it matters: The preliminary deficit sets the frame for the council’s upcoming multi‑week review. Councilors emphasized prioritization, conservative fiscal planning and the need to consider cuts, use of cash balances and potential reallocations to close the gap before final adoption.
What’s next: Departments will present in scheduled work sessions over the next three weeks. Staff will bring follow‑up analyses, including more detailed revenue forecasts and suggestions for reductions and prioritization.
