Graham County supervisors adopt preliminary budget, ratify legal contracts, approve grants and opioid settlements

The Graham County Board of Supervisors on July 21 adopted a preliminary fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved a slate of contracts, grants and settlements affecting county operations.

County Manager Hannah Welker, presenting the budget, described the process as “a very arduous task” and said the county’s proposed budget includes a $62,800,000 general fund and a $132,200,000 total budget. The board voted to adopt the preliminary budget retroactive to July 1, 2025.

The budget presentation listed contingency, capital and personnel items the county plans to fund in the coming year and noted a 4% market increase for all employees. Welker detailed recent and planned capital projects, including a $2,300,000 Motorola upgrade to county dispatch equipment completed this year and multiple fairgrounds, park and highway projects planned in FY2025–26.

Separately, the board ratified several legal services agreements brought forward by the county attorney’s office. The board approved continuing contracts with attorneys who provide misdemeanor, felony and conflict prosecution services and ratified a part‑time consulting contract with Debbie Barnes for work on economic development and administrative matters. The county attorney’s office described the agreements as routine renewals the office has used for multiple years.

Sheriff…