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DeKalb County commissioners approve 2.5% pay increase and advance 2026 budget on first reading
Summary
The DeKalb County commissioners voted to raise employee salaries by 2.5% and approved the 2026 county budget on first reading, leaving $200,000 temporarily earmarked for county health programs and projecting an estimated 25% cash reserve for county general.
DeKalb County commissioners voted unanimously to raise county employee pay by 2.5% for the 2026 budget year and approved the county's 2026 budget on first reading, leaving $200,000 set aside pending final review.
The 2.5% wage increase was proposed by Commissioner Rick Rang and seconded by Commissioner Bill Van Wy and passed without opposition. Commissioners then moved to approve the 2026 county budget on first reading under ordinance 2025-OCC-10; that motion passed on the first reading by a 5–1 vote. The first-reading budget as presented shows county general estimated cash reserves of about 25% with the $200,000 for health programs included.
Why it matters: the pay decision and first-reading budget move the county closer to finalizing its tax rate and departmental appropriations for 2026. Commissioners said they will revisit the $200,000 and other line items at a later meeting after staff completes final reconciliations and brings more detailed figures.
The vote on salaries and the budget followed extended line-by-line review of department requests, fund balances and proposed capital projects. Staff noted several adjustments and transfers that affected 2025 carryover numbers and 2026 baseline requests. Commissioners discussed alternatives to preserve highway and capital funds while meeting demands in public safety, corrections and health services.
Commissioners and staff said the county will reconvene to review final numbers before second and third readings of the ordinance. The first-reading approval authorizes the advertised budget to move forward to the next step in the statutory process.
Ending: Commissioners scheduled further action to reconfirm final figures and to decide whether to keep the $200,000 earmark for health programs at the next meeting.
