Knox County commissioners approved the county’s 2026 non‑general fund operating budgets, county staff said on Jan. 8, setting appropriations at $64,710,365 and noting that Knox Public Health (about $14.6–14.7 million) will be added when the full budget is pulled into the system, bringing total countywide appropriations to roughly $108 million.

Jason, a county staff presenter, told the board the non‑general fund total “is $64,710,365,” and outlined the largest components: roughly $14.1 million in Job and Family Services (JFS) funding, about $10 million for Knox DD (developmental disabilities), $9.8 million in capital/permanent improvements and about $9.2 million for the county engineer’s function. He said the JFS public assistance subfund is approximately $6.7 million of the JFS total and that the county general fund subsidizes about $1 million of children’s services costs.

The commissioners voted to approve the rollup after the presentation; a motion to approve was seconded and the board recorded ayes. Commissioners also approved several routine items during the same meeting, including the employment of outside counsel to assist with Ohio Board of Tax Appeals matters and authorizations to release permissive tax funds and certify Ohio Public Works Commission disbursements.

On specific allocations, county staff said the DD budget line includes a $337,000 allocation for an early‑childhood program described as “help me grow,” and the county created a new animal care fund that officials said they intend not to tap in 2026 so it can grow. The 911 fund was described as essentially flat ($2.6 million) after debt service paid in 2025 freed up about $35,000 to offset salary increases. The engineer’s budget (about $7.9 million) is funded by gas tax and permissive auto tax, and the speaker said the engineer’s materials line shows about a $400,000 increase for roads in 2026.

Staff also described capital appropriations: an accounting line of $4 million was budgeted as an appropriation in case the county chooses to issue a bond for a salt‑barn or related facility, though presenters stressed that this appropriation does not reflect available cash and would only be spent if funding were secured. County officials noted $1.7 million of cash from a 2025 bond remains available for previously authorized projects, including business‑center and transit‑center work.

The board heard grant notes and pass‑through items: CDBG grants totaling about $644,000 were identified for Danville park and critical infrastructure improvements, VOCA victim‑assistance grant funding (~$70,234) includes a county match of roughly $30,000, and Muskingum Watershed receipts were characterized as pass‑through funds.

The commissioners recessed for scheduled bid openings later in the morning and returned to routine business including employment of Kelly Glory of Rich & Gillis Law Group as counsel to assist with board revisions and Ohio Board of Tax Appeals matters, approval of permissive tax releases to the village of Fredericktown (totaling $19,933.43 and $43.44) per the county engineer’s recommendation, and certification of Ohio Public Works Commission disbursements for Michie Road resurfacing ($38,063.67).

The board recorded no other policy votes on new taxes or changes to levy rates; presenters repeatedly distinguished grant and pass‑through funds from county general‑fund obligations. The commissioners adjourned to reconvene for bid openings and a planned site visit to Bat Nest Road.