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Ware County unveils $50 million proposed FY2026 budget; officials discuss WWDA funding
Summary
Ware County presented a proposed $50 million FY2026 budget that includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, an estimated 6.68% rise in health-benefit costs, and SPLOST/TSPLOST/LOST revenue updates; commissioners discussed WWDA funding and closed the public hearing.
WARE COUNTY, Ga. — The Ware County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing June 18 on a proposed $50 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget that would provide a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees and anticipates a 6.68% increase in health-benefit costs if claims do not run high.
Accounting Supervisor Beverly York presented the budget to the commission, saying the county has remained largely self-insured and has finished under budget in recent years. York told commissioners the county is currently over budget because of debris cleanup costs from Hurricane Helene but expects reimbursement from FEMA, which should bring FY2025 into a favorable position. She also said training expenses exceeded the prior year and were increased to retain experienced staff.
York provided revenue figures the commission will use to balance the proposed budget: Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) receipts of $4,655,585.11 as of May 2025; a remaining balance of $778,700.97 in the 2014 SPLOST; $17,109,960.17 received to date from the 2022 SPLOST; and approximately $446,164.96 remaining in the 2018 single-county TSPLOST for approved county projects. The minutes further state Ware County has received $5,478,365 in discretionary Regional TSPLOST funds (listed as roughly $122,000 per month).
During discussion, Commissioner Leonard Burse referred to a presentation given by WWDA Director Jason Rubenbauer and asked whether the WWDA had requested an increase to its budget at the hearing. James Shubert, recorded in the minutes as County Clerk, responded that the WWDA director did not ask for an increase during the public hearing. Burse and Commissioner Jon Tindall said they would like to increase support for economic development, noting that businesses are looking for occupancy-ready buildings rather than just shovel-ready sites; the minutes record that WWDA is scheduled to receive $1 million from the 2022 SPLOST and that side boom mowing is funded from the 2018 SPLOST.
Commissioner Burse moved to close the public hearing; Commissioner Tindall seconded. The roll call in the minutes records Burse as "aye" and Tindall as "aye"; Commissioners Timmy Lucas and Elmer Thrift were recorded as absent. The minutes state the public hearing closed at 10:38 a.m. The minutes list July 14, 2025 as the date proposed for final approval of the FY2026 budget.
What happens next: the commission will consider formal adoption of the budget at a meeting proposed for July 14, 2025, at which time any final votes and formal ordinances would be recorded in the official minutes.
