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Fulton County auditor urges cautious 2026 budgeting amid uncertainty from SB1; Baker Tilly review planned
Summary
County auditor told council the extent of changes from Indiana’s SB1 remains unclear and recommended budgeting close to 2025 funding levels while Baker Tilly reviews the county’s options. Auditor Kathy invited council members to a Friday session with Baker Tilly and said department-level budget talks should start based on last year’s numbers.
County Auditor Kathy told the Fulton County Council on May 20 that Senate Bill 1’s (SB1) scope and impacts on county finances remain uncertain and that preliminary planning should be conservative.
"Nobody still knows how this is going to affect county government for '26, '27, and '28," Kathy said, noting the statute's length and amendments. She said some fiscal impacts for 2027–28 could be "pretty hard" and recommended that, for now, the county start with 2025 funding levels as the baseline while consultants help model scenarios.
Kathy said she has a scheduled call with accounting firm Baker Tilly and invited council members to join a 1 p.m. Friday Zoom meeting to discuss budgeting and the bond. She also reported that local meetings with Baker Tilly are planned at the council’s request and that a Baker Tilly presentation summarizing SB1 for municipal stakeholders would be available at a later date.
The auditor proposed meeting with department heads to hand out salary and budget forms and start the local budgeting process. "With '26 rapidly approaching and not knowing for sure what we're gonna face…we probably ought to stick pretty close to the funding that for '25," she said.
Council discussion addressed timing: department heads must still file required settlement paperwork and the auditor said she could not compress the statutory June settlement deadlines. The council agreed auditor-led preparatory meetings could proceed on last year’s numbers while the county awaits clearer state guidance and consultant analysis.
Why it matters: SB1 is a statewide statutory package that, according to county staff, could change county revenue streams and expenditure responsibilities. Early, conservative budgeting aims to limit the risk of midyear shortfalls if state aid or formulas change.
Ending: The auditor will proceed with department-head conversations using the 2025 budget as a starting point and will host the Baker Tilly call; council members were invited to participate.
