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Franklin County commissioners pass broad package of budget amendments, grant applications and road changes
Summary
At its Feb. 2 meeting the Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved numerous budget amendments (including three school budget fixes), authorized grant applications for Safe Streets and a T‑Mobile library grant, approved several local speed‑limit reductions, and accepted the resignation of a commissioner.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Feb. 2 at the courthouse in Winchester and approved a large slate of routine and financial items affecting county operations and schools.
The board unanimously approved a trio of Franklin County Board of Education general‑fund budget amendments the school system forwarded for FY2026 to cover program and payroll adjustments. The finance director presented November and December financial reports and the board accepted inter‑category amendments for October–December 2025, actions the commission said were needed to align departmental spending with appropriations.
Members also approved a county‑level budget amendment package that included changes for the general, library, solid‑waste and rural‑fire funds. The packet moved several restricted revenue items into targeted line items and reallocated opioid‑abatement funds to community prevention and related programs.
The commission authorized two grant applications: a T‑Mobile Hometown grant for the Franklin County Library to expand its computer lab and related services, and a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a countywide Safe Systems approach. The Safe Streets motion was paired with adoption of a Transportation Safety Action Plan the commission later approved.
On public‑works items the board approved several routine road list updates and additions to the county’s private‑road list (including Adonis Lane, Liberty Hollow Lane and Thurman Lane). Commissioners also approved a set of speed‑limit reductions on multiple county roads after the highway director and sheriff’s office provided safety recommendations. The vote tallies for most measures were recorded as unanimous or near‑unanimous with two absentee commissioners noted on several roll calls.
The meeting included a public hearing and vote on a rezoning recommended by the Regional Planning Commission (see separate article). The board also declared assorted county items surplus and directed disposal, and tabled—for further information—a request related to an avigation and hazard easement proposed to the Winchester Airport Authority.
Personnel and administrative actions included approval of a revised Franklin County employee handbook and 2026 holiday calendar, appointment and reappointment of multiple advisory members (Audit Committee, Animal Control Board, notaries and judicial commissioners), and the appointment of Sam Davidson to complete a school committee term. Commissioners accepted the resignation of Commissioner Spike Hosch (District 5, Seat B), effective Jan. 20, 2026; the commission will fill that vacancy as required by county rules.
The board adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
What’s next: staff said the Safe Streets grant application will be prepared this spring, and the Transportation Safety Action Plan directs county staff to pursue targeted safety projects and funding opportunities over the next several years.
