Hamilton County adopts $1.36 billion 2026 budget, holds transfer tax at 2025 level
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Summary
The Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 18 to adopt a $1.36 billion all-funds 2026 budget (general fund $403.8 million), prioritizing public safety and reserving $1 million for affordable housing while holding the proposed transfer tax at the 2025 rate.
County Commissioner Denise Driehaus presided over a vote Dec. 18 that adopted a $1,360,000,000 all-funds operating budget for 2026 and a $403,800,000 appropriation to the county general fund.
The budget passed on a unanimous vote by the three commissioners. Administration said the final document includes adjustments from the administrator’s earlier recommendation: a $950,000 increase for the prosecutor’s office, $305,000 for the sheriff, $203,534 for veteran services, $100,000 for economic development (building futures), $75,000 for probate court and $46,100 for the public defender. The board also kept the transfer tax rate at the 2025 level and removed a proposed additional mill.
“I'm very proud that this has been a primary focus of this county to make sure that we've got good individuals serving the public of Hamilton County,” County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said during debate, noting a roughly 3% overall increase driven in large part by a 3% wage adjustment for county employees.
The adopted package also includes reserve-based adjustments and one-time allocations: a $250,000 increase to the large tourism event grant (bringing it to $1,000,000), $150,000 to small community event grants (total $250,000), a $400,000 boost to the community revitalization grant program (total $1,550,000), $150,000 for bike-trail development, and a $1,000,000 reserve allocation to support affordable-housing development or programming that will be programmed in 2026. Officials said these reserve allocations are not ongoing general-fund commitments and will be evaluated annually.
Commissioner Alicia Rees framed her support in three priorities: “safety, affordability, and no new taxes,” and emphasized that many of the budget’s increases are aimed at public-safety functions and services county residents rely on. Commissioners and administration agreed the board must monitor revenues closely next year, especially given flat sales-tax receipts and potential federal and state policy changes that could affect costs.
The board approved the budget and a companion reserve allocation (by-leave item 11) during the meeting; staff said monthly monitoring and further reporting will follow so the commissioners can respond to emerging revenue pressures or cost increases.
What’s next: administration and department heads will track performance and bring monthly updates; commissioners said conversations about levies and specific program rollouts will continue into the new year.
