A resident identified in the meeting record as Mr. Clark addressed the board during public comment to critique and ask clarifying questions about the county's draft 2026 budget and recent tax notices.

"I appreciate the opportunity to provide these comments on the proposed 2026 budget," Clark said, and urged the board to "consider town hall meetings" to study a floating local‑option sales tax authorized under House Bill 581 so non‑homestead property owners could share benefits alongside homeowners.

Clark asked county staff to show how much tax revenue the county currently receives from bitcoin mining and solar fields, and said the county lacks zoning or ordinances that would clarify those tax flows. He also asked who enforces the mobile‑home decal tax and whether collection and oversight are adequate.

On county fire funding, Clark noted the 2025 fire and rescue special millage was budgeted at about $580,000 while the 2026 draft listed a $707,000 fire budget; he urged the board to consider adjusting the fire millage or rolling back other millages after the final tax digest to avoid collecting more than is needed. "If the projection of the new tax digest is true ... this budget will collect more money from the fire millage rate than is necessary for the fire budget," he said.

County Manager Reid Lovett responded to several points, saying he and Clark had reviewed the draft in detail and that the projected overage Clark cited — roughly $40,000 in the manager's estimate — could be used to fund a permanent county fire chief if the board chose to add that position. Lovett explained the county used an estimated millage rate on mailed tax notices because the final digest and appeal period were not complete; as a result the county has not submitted a final PT‑32.1 rollback form to the state.

Commissioners and staff also discussed homestead exemptions and the 45‑day appeal window: staff noted some property owners can still apply for homestead or other exemptions now and that filing can affect the net taxable value used for millage calculations. County staff encouraged residents to consult the tax office for exemptions and parcel documentation.

Why this matters: The items Clark raised affect how much revenue the county collects in 2026 and whether taxes will rise or roll back after the state approves the final digest. The public comment also flagged operational gaps (mobile‑home decal enforcement, recreation revenue sharing and zoning) that commissioners and staff said they would review or already are addressing.

Quotations in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed to speakers recorded therein.