Elbert County adopts 2026 budget, approves new positions, pay increases and capital projects

Elbert County's Board of County Commissioners adopted the county's 2026 budget and appropriations at a special meeting Dec. 15, 2025, after a presentation by Finance Director Tiffany Hermas and brief commissioner questions. The board voted in favor of the resolution and the chair declared the motion carried.

Hermas told commissioners the countywide budget shows overall revenue slightly down between 2025 and 2026 but that many funds remain level. "Our revenue is going up about 8% and our expenditures are going up about 7.6," she said, referring to the general fund. She added the county plans "to be happy to use fund balance for some of the expenditures in 2026," citing costs tied to forming the 23rd District, a building lease, contract services and capital purchases.

The budget approved several new staff requests and equipment purchases. Hermas said the county will add positions including a treasurer administrative position, a CDS water planner, promotional moves for deputies (two corporals and a lieutenant), a part-time evidence technician and two traffic deputies. Road and Bridge is slated to add a loader operator and an administrative assistant for the fleet unit. Equipment and vehicles listed include a Kubota mower for facilities, truck upfitting and ballistic shields for the sheriff's office, and eight Tahoe patrol vehicles with upfitting.

Hermas also identified capital projects outside departmental equipment: maintenance work at the fairgrounds, including improvements to the Crow's Nest and the main arena for lighting and sound. The presentation listed $500,000 for fairgrounds capital projects; Hermas said the county has not yet issued an RFP and expects the work to occur in spring or summer, and that staff will post bidding documents in time and return to the board for approvals if plans change. A presentation slide referenced additional Road and Bridge purchases "for 1.1"; the presenter did not clarify the unit or whether that figure represents dollars or millions.

On compensation, Hermas said the board approved a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, a 2% merit increase, and a 5% increase in benefit subsidies across each tier offered for 2026.

Commissioners asked several clarifying questions during the presentation. One commissioner asked whether the $500,000 fairgrounds allocation had gone out to bid; Hermas replied it had not and described plans to coordinate solicitation timing with staff. Commissioner Schroeder asked whether contract services funded from reserves were one-time or ongoing; Hermas said some are ongoing (noting departments such as CDS and facilities) and some are one-time.

After the presentation, Commissioner Schroeder moved to approve the resolution adopting Elbert County's 2026 budget and appropriating funds; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. The meeting concluded after an adjournment motion and a recorded aye vote.

The county recorded that minutes will be created from the meeting recording; the county clerk's physical presence was not required and was not confirmed on the record during the meeting.