Commission ratifies FY26 budget directions; approves 5% raises and funding for affordable rental housing

The Leon County Board of County Commissioners ratified the board's June 17 directions for development of the tentative FY26 budget on July 8, approved funding steps to address rental housing for low-income residents and passed a 5% across-the-board pay increase for county employees.

Commissioners first ratified options related to the FY26 budget workshop actions and the board's tentative budget direction. Public testimony preceding the vote urged the board to move quickly on affordable housing allocations. Reverend Sylvia Jones, who identified herself as co-chair of an affordable housing strategy team, said the groups had "turned out our members once again" to thank commissioners for the proposed actions and for staff work on the initiative. Jordan Rios, a public-school teacher and single parent who described experiencing homelessness, said the housing allocations under consideration were "not abstract numbers or lines on a budget. They are real hope for real families." Otis B. Young, a faith leader, also thanked the board and urged continued partnership.

Commissioners voted to ratify staff recommendations and budget directions for items labeled in the agenda as options 1 and 2. Later the board considered the separate staff option for performance pay (option 3) and ultimately approved a 5% across-the-board pay increase for county employees by a 4-3 vote. Opponents of the 5% motion said they favored merit-based increases rather than automatic across-the-board raises and warned that recurring increases could create long-term fiscal strain; supporters said the county's awards and operational demands justified broader pay increases and that budget adjustments allowed the board to provide a raise without dipping into fund balance.

On the housing item, commissioners explicitly ratified the directions the board provided at the budget workshop that guide proposed expenditures for the 2026 State Housing Initiatives Partnership allocation and budget workshop items tied to affordable housing. Commissioners and staff described a $500,000 county commitment to expand rental housing options for extremely low- and very low-income families (the commitment was referenced in the meeting discussion as part of the budget directions), and several public speakers thanked the board for the proposed actions.

The vote on the personnel item came after commissioners split the consideration to handle components of the workshop directions first and then decide on the pay increase separately. Commissioner Minor, who advocated for returning to a primarily performance-based system, warned that recurring across-the-board pay raises create a sustained fiscal obligation. Commissioner Proctor and other supporters argued the county had the funding for the raise this year and that employees had earned recognition.

The final tally on the 5% across-the-board pay increase was 4 in favor, 3 opposed. Commissioners who recorded opposition said they preferred a merit-based system and were concerned about fiscal sustainability; supporters noted awards the county's staff has won and operational demands.

The board also noted that one commissioner, Brandon Maddox, recused himself from one part of the budget ratification because of a potential conflict: he is CEO of a nonprofit that receives CHSP funding.

The board scheduled the next public hearing on the tentative budget; staff said they will return the detailed proposed budget and any necessary technical analyses to commissioners for formal adoption steps.