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Jefferson County adopts $934 million 2026 budget, certifies mill levies; law-enforcement authority also approved
Summary
The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 18 adopted the county's 2026 budget and mill-levy certification, approving proposed expenditures of about $934.4 million and authorizing the law-enforcement authority budget as presented; staff described a $103.7 million net use of fund balance tied largely to one-time capital projects.
Jefferson County commissioners voted Nov. 18 to adopt the county's 2026 budget and certify mill levies after receiving a detailed presentation from Chief Financial Officer Dan Conway and Budget Director Colleen Doan.
The presentation said the county proposes total revenues of $830.7 million and total expenditures of $934.4 million for 2026, producing a $103.7 million net use of fund balance that staff said is responsibly tied to one-time capital projects and supported by a projected year-end fund balance. Colleen Doan told the board the proposed budget organizes county finances across 40 funds, including a newly added regional homeless response custodial fund.
Jefferson County Assessor Scott Kearsgaard also presented annual valuation numbers earlier in the hearing, saying the county's assessed taxable value for county purposes is about $14.5 billion and that assessed value increased roughly $607 million (4.4%) from 2024. Kearsgaard cited residential and school assessment rates and noted differing assessment rates applied to school and county tax calculations.
Commissioner Zenzinger praised the partial restoration of the road and bridge mill levy and the restoration of a social-services mill levy priority; Zenzinger said the budget prioritizes workforce retention and sustaining staffing levels. "I very much appreciate the fact that we are on the pathway," she said.
After presentation and brief discussion, the board voted unanimously to adopt the 2026 county budget, appropriate funds and certify the mill levies (recorded vote: Aye, Aye, Yes). The board then adjourned and reconvened as the Law Enforcement Authority board of directors and approved the LEA's 2026 budget and levy certification by unanimous vote.
The county's presentation listed recommended operating and capital allocations, including $116.9 million recommended for capital projects from $187 million of capital requests and decision packages totaling $46 million in operating requests (of which $6.8 million is one-time). Included in the proposed operating recommendations were 71 new full-time positions and 48 limited-term positions across funds.
Next procedural steps: the county published the resolutions in the record and will complete audit and posting as required by state law; the budget took effect upon board adoption and certification per standard county processes.
