Montgomery County adopts FY 2025-26 budget ordinance; board recommends three fire tax rates and approves consent agenda

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 county budget ordinance and fee schedule at its regular meeting on June 17, 2025, after holding public hearings on three fire tax districts and approving a consent agenda that included minutes, budget amendments and multiple appointments.

County staff opened the evening’s budget hearings by telling the board there were no proposed changes to any fire tax district. The board recessed and convened as the Baden Lake Fire Tax Commission, the Lake Tillery Fire Tax Commission and the Wadeville Fire Tax Commission to hear public comment and make recommendations to the board of commissioners on tax rates for fiscal year 2025-26.

The board recommended no change for the Baden Lake Fire Tax Commission; staff earlier stated the district currently levies a tax of 7 cents (as presented). The Lake Tillery Fire Tax Commission recommended a rate of 4 cents per $100 valuation. The Wadeville Fire Tax Commission recommended a rate of 2.5 cents. Each commission’s recommendation was moved and seconded and approved during the meeting.

Before the final vote on the county budget ordinance and fee schedule, one resident spoke during the public comment period. Nancy Rupert of 240 Rocky Creek Drive thanked commissioners for balancing the budget and for measures she singled out, including debt reduction, teacher supplements and county employee raises. "The main thing I'm so grateful for is that you're paying down that debt," Rupert said. She also asked that the budget be posted online before next year's hearings and suggested holding the public hearing earlier in the process to allow more time for public review.

The board approved a consent agenda at the start of the meeting that included approval of minutes for May and June 3; budget amendments 15, 16, 17 and 18 (the staff summary listed year-end adjustments and various employee bonuses); fireworks permits for Baden Lake, Town of Troy and The Farm at Huari; a registered deeds report; a resolution of commendation for an employee retiring after 24 years of service; and appointments and reappointments to boards and advisory councils (including an appointment of Mary Hassell to the Trillium Lead State Advisory Board and Dr. Robert Nelson to the NTC Board of Trustees, plus multiple reappointments to the juvenile crime prevention council). A motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Joe and seconded by Mister Haley and was approved.

After the fire tax commission recommendations, the board reconvened as the Board of Commissioners and moved to adopt the county budget ordinance and fee schedule for fiscal year 2025-26. The motion was made by Mister Hoad and seconded by Mister Taylor; the board approved the ordinance.

The meeting packet also included county manager reports and additional budget materials for commissioners' review. The chair closed the meeting after the scheduled business was completed.

Details of formal actions, including motions, movers, seconds and tallies, appear below in the actions section.