Simpson County Fiscal Court approves 2026 budgets, salary maxima and multiple budget transfers

Simpson County Fiscal Court on Jan. 6 approved key 2026 spending plans and a set of intra-fund transfers intended to align department budgets before the new fiscal year.

County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes presided over unanimous votes to adopt the County Clerk's 2026 budget and maximum deputy salaries totaling $476,939 and to adopt the Sheriff's 2026 budget and maximum deputies' salaries totaling $2,850,209. County Clerk Austin Johnson told the court his budget assumes a 3% pay increase and includes funding for a new full-time employee who would train under the current clerk prior to a future retirement.

The court also approved a list of budget transfers moving funds among line items for functions including building inspector salaries, DTF contingency and retirement-match lines, fire department utilities and part-time personnel, sheriff advertising and fuel, OEM communications maintenance and animal shelter maintenance. Individual transfer amounts were read into the record during the meeting.

Fiscal Court approved bills and claims covering payroll and vendor payments. Notable disbursements on the claims list included Simpson County gross payroll lines (general payroll $254,676.98; road payroll $22,300.69; jail payroll $117,024.85), Kellwell Food Management ($24,300.69), ISTT ($26,460.26) and Scotty's Contracting & Stone ($75,390.30). The court carried the motion to approve claims unanimously.

The court voted on the measures by motion (movers and seconders recorded in the minutes); recorded votes were summarized in the official minutes as unanimous for the items described. There were no formal amendments to the budgets on the floor and no additional conditions attached to the transfers.

The meeting record shows the court adjourned at 10:22 a.m.