Washington County presents $438 million recommended 2026 budget, proposes 6.95% levy increase

Washington County Administrator Kevin Corbett presented the county's recommended $438,000,000 2026 budget on July 29 and asked the Board of Commissioners to begin review of a proposed 6.95% county levy increase. Corbett and Deputy Administrators Jan Lucky and Wagenius (Deputy Administrator) described the recommendation as focused on meeting existing obligations, completing capital commitments and stabilizing human-services programs facing growing wait lists.

The memo and slides provided to the board show that most of the year-over-year growth is in capital spending; administration said roughly $50 million of the $77 million total increase is capital and the remaining $27 million is operating. Deputy Administrator Lucky said the operating increase largely covers wages and benefits for existing staff, technology contract increases and targeted staffing to address program compliance and wait lists. She summarized the recommended levy proposal as 6.95% and said that translates to about a $50 annual increase on a median-value home in a sample scenario (about a 5.1% example change in a median bill), while noting actual homeowner impacts will vary by property and final levy decisions.

Why it matters: the recommended budget funds roads and bridges, libraries and parks, emergency housing operations and human services where federal and state funding shifts and new program requirements have increased workloads. County officials said the proposal attempts to protect long-term fiscal health by using one-time resources prudently, expanding use of a revocable trust to fund retiree health subsidies, and balancing pay-as-you-go and debt financing for capital projects.

Major revenue and levy details

- Total recommended county…