Comptroller says Washington County in sound fiscal position; ARPA, sales tax and reserves flagged in 2026 outlook
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Summary
Comptroller Sherman told the Financial Budget Committee that Washington County's revenues are up year over year, the county's tax rate remains lower than many peers, and ARPA and COVID revenue replacement funds will be mostly spent by 2026.
Comptroller Sherman presented a countywide budget overview Sept. 9, telling the Financial Budget Committee that most revenue lines are up and that Washington County carries substantial reserves.
Sherman reported that property-tax collections through August were $527,000 and 9.1% ahead of the same period last year. Sales-tax receipts for the quarter rose about 4.5% compared with the same period last year, and the county's 1¢ sales tax is about 5.5% ahead year-to-date. The quarter-cent jail tax showed nearly $1.5 million in receipts, roughly 5.5% higher than the previous year.
Sherman said the county's unappropriated reserve for county general is around $2.4 million to $2.5 million, and he estimated about $14 million held in reserves overall. He noted Washington County's millage rate is below many peer counties and reiterated he was not advocating a rate change but pointing to the county's relative tax position when assessing fiscal capacity.
On federal pandemic-era funds, Sherman and Treasurer Hill reviewed ARPA balances. Treasurer Hill reported an ARPA ending balance of $7,149,390.12 and said most of those funds have been earmarked for projects; actual invoices timing, he said, will determine how much must be spent before the program deadline. He told the committee "I would think we probably have $3.03 to 5,000,000 left at the end of this year to spend next year," adding that invoicing cadence will determine final outlays.
Sherman and Treasurer Hill also reviewed the employee health insurance fund, noting a one-off large claims month had driven unusually high medical expenditures, and that stop-loss (reinsurance) recovery was anticipated to reimburse a significant portion of that large claimant.
Ending: The comptroller presented high-level budget figures and framed the 2026 budget as a modest increase after adjusting one-time COVID-era revenue replacement and ARPA spending; he invited questions before departmental briefings.
