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Ashland County board adopts 2026 budget, approves related finance measures
Summary
The Ashland County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2026 budget and tax levy by roll call (18-0) and approved a package of related finance measures including a contract for outside fiscal services and a 2.5% raise for nonrepresented employees.
The Ashland County Board of Supervisors adopted the county's 2026 budget and tax levy after a roll-call vote with 18 yes and 0 no votes.
The budget vote followed an earlier public hearing on the proposed 2026 spending plan and public comments urging the board to consider restoring financial support for local economic development services. During debate the finance officer and administrator reviewed budget changes, and supervisors discussed adjustments made to reduce a roughly $1.4 million shortfall identified early in the process.
Finance items bundled with the budget included a set of routine and one-time actions the board approved during the same meeting. The board authorized continuing to hire MWK LLC to provide fiscal services through 2026 to support the county's finance operations while an internal finance director is recruited and trained. The board also approved a uniform 2.5% compensation increase for nonrepresented county employees for the 2026 calendar year; board members said the dollar cost is included in the adopted budget.
The county approved its annual debt levy and associated borrowing plan, which the administrator said will include approximately $1,865,000 of new borrowing (the total debt levy line includes insurance and lease items that are not bond borrowings). The administrator told the board the debt levy is slightly higher than last year chiefly because of a $400,000 HVAC replacement for the sheriff's facility.
Separately, supervisors approved a resolution to use an unused levy carryover (the board described roughly $48,000 in available carryover) and a set-aside to cover planned capital and operating needs. The finance discussion noted the county has been able to use one-time federal and state windfalls in recent years (including ARPA and other funds) and that ongoing structural pressures remain, especially if health-insurance costs rise.
During the public hearing on the budget three members of the public spoke in favor of county investment in the Ashland Area Development Corporation (AADC). Board members said the county grant writer will continue to assist local organizations with grant applications and that finance and board committees should evaluate any future county funding request.
The board's unanimous roll-call approval of the budget followed committee deliberations over the summer and fall and was accompanied by votes to continue the MWK contract and approve the personnel and debt actions described above. Supervisors and staff indicated they expect budget pressure in coming years and flagged the possibility of using fund balance or seeking other revenue sources if needed.
