Cherokee County holds second public hearing on fiscal 2026 budget; no final vote scheduled

Cherokee County officials held the second and final public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 county budget on Sept. 16, as Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Marcus presented an overview of revenue assumptions and planned expenditures.

Marcus told the board the county is proposing a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, no headcount additions, an employer/employee medical cost-split target of 81/19 moving toward 80/20, and a series of insurance and benefit changes to address rising health-care costs. Countywide expenditures in the draft budget were shown as an increase of about $20.5 million (4.91%), with operating funds up roughly $19.6 million (6.19%) and capital funds up about $879,000 (0.087%). He said personnel accounts for about 54% of expenditures and that the proposed general-fund ending balance would be roughly $56.14 million, or about 3.8 months of fund balance.

Marcus highlighted major fund movements: general fund up $9.2 million (5.5%), fire fund up $2.6 million (4.68%), EMS up $2.2 million (9.92%), and parks/rec up $350,000 (3.69%). He noted anticipated property-tax-driven revenue increases, including an estimated $6.9 million from property taxes and a $986,000 increase in charges for services; he also said investment revenue is forecast to fall by about $400,000 with lower interest rates.

Commissioners opened the public hearing (motion by Commissioner Carden, second by Commissioner Ragsdale), then heard one registered speaker, Annette Crenshaw, who said she is on a homestead exemption but remains concerned about tax burdens for seniors and asked where an increase attributed to senior services ($90,000) would be spent. Marcus said the senior-services increase will go toward Meals on Wheels and other senior services provided by the county. Several other attendees spoke in general support of the county—s fiscal conservatism and raised longer-term concerns about reserves and the aging population.

Commissioners closed the public hearing by voice vote (motion by Commissioner Carter, second by Commissioner Ragsdale). The board did not take a final vote to adopt the budget at the Sept. 16 meeting; Marcus said formal action on the FY2026 budget is scheduled for the board—s next meeting (an adoption vote was indicated for Oct. 7 on the calendar). The county staff materials and the full detailed budget (511 pages) are posted on the county website and on file in the clerk—s office.

Why it matters: The proposed FY2026 budget sets personnel and capital priorities for the county government and includes benefit changes that will affect employees and future county costs. The hearing gave residents a formal opportunity to comment before the board votes.