Midland County commissioners voted on Nov. 20 to advertise the 2026 budget for public review while keeping the county’s property tax millage unchanged.

Commissioner 2 told the board “the millage will remain at 15.77 mills” and said the draft budget reflects an estimated 4.74% reduction in expenditures compared with the 2025 plan. Commissioners set the public display to begin Nov. 20, 2025, and scheduled final adoption for Dec. 18, 2025.

County staff said anticipated revenues for 2025 are coming in below target and that estimates for grants and outside funding have decreased, but expenditures also are running under projections. Commissioner 2 noted that, as a result, the county expects to add to reserves this year rather than draw them down; last year’s adopted budget had planned to use $419,007.34 in reserves to balance operations.

The display period will provide the public and departments an opportunity to review departmental line items; full documents will be available on the county website and in the county office, officials said. Commissioners emphasized the display is part of a tentative spending plan and that department heads contributed to the budgeting process.

Next procedural steps: the budget will remain on public display and the commission will consider final adoption at its Dec. 18 meeting.