The Greene County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 adopted the county’s 2026 budget, a plan just under $66,000,000 that board staff said is 2.4% higher than the 2025 budget and incorporates recent health-insurance increases.

County staff presenting the proposal said the budget includes roughly a 7% increase in health-insurance costs and funds to support two pay items the board considered alongside the budget: a 2% increase to the established wage scale (affecting step progression for new and promoted employees) and a 3.5% general wage increase for employees not covered by step increases; staff also said the general increase would be extended to elected officials so they can distribute pay similarly.

“...this budget at just under 66,000,000 is 2.4% more than the 2025 budget, but it also incorporates our health insurance increase,” a staff presenter said during the discussion. The presenter described the wage changes as part of delivering a balanced budget that accounts for those pay adjustments.

Board members speaking during the vote expressed appreciation for the budget process and staff work assembling the plan. After a motion, the board voted to adopt the budget; the motion carried and the board recorded affirmative votes.

Next steps: staff will implement the approved 2026 spending plan and process wage adjustments as described during the meeting.