Meade County adopts 2025 budget resolution, sets levy after debate on assignments and revenues

The Meade County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s 2025 budget resolution on Sept. 24 after finalizing means-of-finance changes and moving several highway capital items into one-time assignments.

Commissioners settled a number of revenue and assignment questions before the vote, including lowering the interest-income estimate from $600,000 to $400,000 and removing a $250,000 bridge-improvement grant from the County Road and Bridge operating budget so it would be treated as a one-time assignment. The board also agreed to apply $100,000 of highway cash to reduce the amount required from the general fund.

Why it matters: the actions lock in the formal appropriations and the mill levy the county will use for property-tax notices and make projects eligible for state and federal grant matching only if included on the county’s five-year plan or as assigned funds. Commissioner Rich Leggett moved the resolution; commissioners discussed several line items in detail before adopting the final document and directing staff to publish the updated means-of-finance spreadsheet in the official BoardDocs record.

Key details: the board recorded total county taxes to be levied at $12,514,123, for an overall county levy of 3.533. The motion to adopt the annual budget resolution and appropriations carried in the public vote; commissioners signed the resolution for record. The board also approved the Highway Department’s DOT-required five-year plan earlier in the meeting to preserve grant eligibility for listed projects.

What’s next: staff will post the final means-of-finance exhibits and appropriation totals to the record and proceed with any required assignments before year-end. The board signaled it will revisit assigned projects as grant opportunities arise and as contingency funds allow.