Franklin County sets Sept. 10 public hearing for 2026 budget; authorizes publication at estimated mill rate 46.401

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on July 16 set a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget for Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. and authorized the County Clerk to publish the budget notice in the Ottawa Herald with an estimated mill rate of 46.401.

Janet, a county finance staff member, told commissioners the draft reflects decisions made during budget study sessions but that the county's audit is not complete. "We have not received our audit back yet so these numbers do have a little bit of extra in it to cover any balances that are going to be changed through our audit," Janet said. She and Derek, another county staff member, said they expect audited results in roughly two weeks and that the published number was intentionally conservative: "we inflated it so that you can always come down, but you can't," one commissioner said.

Staff told the board the county's revenue-neutral rate is 45.121; the published (maximum) mill rate will be 46.401. The board discussed timing constraints created by changes in statutory deadlines for publishing budgets. Commissioners also confirmed that one mill in Franklin County yields about $415,000 in revenue.

A motion to set the public hearing for Sept. 10 at 6:00 p.m. and to authorize publication of the budget notice with an estimated mill rate not to exceed 46.401 passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Publishing a higher estimate preserves the board's ability to lower the mill rate once audited figures are final, but publishing locks in the hearing schedule and starts the formal notification process. Staff said they plan to return with audited cash balances before final adoption.