Jackson County Legislature adopts 2026 budget amendment, rolls $3 million for housing into 2026

Jackson County legislators on Dec. 15 approved an amendment to the county's 2026 budget that reassigns $3,000,000 originally appropriated in 2025 for a housing project to 2026, establishes a $250,000 appropriation labeled “Jackson County Arts,” and restores several staffing lines including two training positions and prosecutor's office positions.

County Administrator Steve Arbo, who briefed the body on the ordinance, said the $3 million was carried forward from the 2025 appropriation: “So the $3,000,000 ... that was assigned in 2025 for the housing project is getting reassigned or reappropriated to the 2026 budget.” He described the package as largely the same as the version the legislature reviewed at the public hearing, with only a “few minor amendments.”

Legislators pressed administration officials for details about fund balances and reserve usage. When asked about the marijuana sales tax fund, Mark Lang responded that there was no revenue budgeted for that fund in 2026 and that about $13,000,000 remained from prior collections. Lang described accounting moves affecting an opioid-related transfer and said some earlier internal transfers were reversed in the current amendment.

Several members urged caution about relying on reserves. One lawmaker noted that the undesignated fund balance was “nearly 4 and a half million” with an undesignated balance of roughly $10,000,000 and warned that repeated use of reserves could affect the county’s ability to pursue favorable bond ratings.

After discussion, the legislature moved, perfected and adopted the amendment; the clerk recorded the roll and the measure was added to the consent agenda for adoption as substituted. Recorded roll calls during the proceedings show the measure advanced with recorded 'yes' votes from the nine members present at the vote.

The ordinance (6044) and its amendment will appear on the consent agenda, and the body completed related votes and procedural steps during the Dec. 15 session. The legislature signaled it may supplement or reallocate funds later if members wish to designate additional remaining marijuana sales-tax proceeds for projects agreed by the body.