Franklin County adopts 2026 budget, approves mill levy above revenue-neutral rate

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a 2026 budget Tuesday evening that sets an estimated mill levy of about 45.142 mills and is projected to generate $18,738,692 in ad valorem property taxes.

County staff presented the budget and explained the board also adopted Resolution 25‑34 to exceed the revenue‑neutral rate, setting the rate used in the resolution at 45.121 mills. County staff told the board the proposed levy represents a reduction from an earlier published 46.4 mills and from the prior year’s levy by roughly 2 mills, but that the budget is not revenue neutral and would require roughly $441,000 in additional taxes compared with the 2025 levy.

Why it matters: The budget funds statutory county services the staff said the county must provide, while building reserves for equipment replacement and addressing pay gaps for county employees that officials said have contributed to turnover. County staff described the increase as roughly 2.4% of the 2025 budget and said it is below the 12‑month Consumer Price Index measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2.7% through July, as cited by staff).

County presentation and key numbers Derek, a county staff presenter, reviewed the budget timeline and the staff process. He said staff began developing the budget in March, held two public budget study sessions on June 9 and June 10, and worked line‑by‑line with…