Dawson County commissioners approve FY2026 budget with amendments after public hearing

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved the county's FY2026 budget on Nov. 20 after a public hearing and debate over additions for public safety and other changes.

The board voted to adopt the chairman's proposed budget with amendments presented by Commissioner Gaines, who asked that personnel and capital changes be added. The amendments include adding three firefighter-paramedics tied to a new med unit (presented as a $321,461.87 line item), an increase in the sheriff's salary budget of $300,000 earmarked for frontline deputies and jail personnel, removal of a half-year budgeted EMA director position (a $59,388 reduction), and a $60,000 allocation to replace one boiler unit in the jail. Finance staff said the net effect of the proposed changes would be an added $444,548 in spending and a new use of fund balance of $9,929,003.

Commissioner Gaines described the amendments as a response to retention and operational needs and said the county has begun training firefighter-paramedics who could fill the added positions. "This would allow them a position to roll into," he said.

Chairman expressed concern about immediately funding the full cost for additional med units, citing call-volume statistics: "When you run the numbers on that, you wind up with 3.81 calls per 24 hour shift per truck," he said, arguing that current utilization did not justify the $321,000 increase. The chief of fire/EMS explained that cross-staffing and station configurations would be used to crew the additional ambulance if approved.

A member of the public who identified himself as Tim urged the board to prioritize staffing increases for safety reasons, describing personal experiences with emergency responses and saying, "I've seen everywhere a human being could die, and I'm living it." He argued that relying on call-count statistics alone understates risk.

After debate over tradeoffs and pay parity across departments, Commissioner Gaines moved to approve the chairman's proposed budget with his amendments. The motion, seconded and put to a voice vote, carried 4-0.

What happens next: The approved FY2026 budget—adjusted as noted—becomes the county's spending plan for the coming year. Departments will proceed under the adopted totals and approved contract/vehicle procurements; any outlays that require further board action (such as specific hiring or capital expenditures) will come back for implementation or procurement steps.

Votes and formal action: The board recorded the final approval as a unanimous voice vote (4-0) on the motion to adopt the proposed FY2026 budget with the listed amendments.