Lincoln County adopts FY2025–26 budget and system development fee updates; St. James Elementary financing hearing set

The Board of Commissioners adopted the Lincoln County fiscal year 2025–26 budget after a public hearing. County staff said general fund tax collections and sales tax receipts are close to budgeted estimates and that the adopted budget will be published online.

During the public hearing, Grama Dean Hall (Communities and Schools of Lincoln County) urged the board to reconsider funding cuts, describing the organization’s school-based mentoring, teacher resource center and youth programs and warning that loss of funding could reduce services for vulnerable students.

Commissioners discussed a $5 gun-permit fee listed in the fines-and-fees schedule; counsel advised that the fee is unlawful and the board directed staff to ensure the item is removed. The board adopted the budget ordinance with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript and noted they may amend the budget at the July meeting if needed.

Separately, county utilities staff presented and the board adopted an updated system development fee (SDF) study. The study, a required periodic update, shows increases since 2018: proposed water SDF per user rose from $3,102 to $3,592 (about +15.8%) and sewer SDF from $1,621 to $1,788 (about +10.3%). The county posted the draft study for the required 45-day comment period and received no written comments through the portal.

County finance staff also asked the board to call a public hearing on June 16 to consider financing not to exceed $13,000,000 for St. James Elementary expansion; the board unanimously approved scheduling that hearing.