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County Manager Randy Wiggins presents Cherokee County FY26 budget with no property tax increase
Summary
Cherokee County's recommended FY26 budget holds the property tax millage at 61 cents while proposing increased spending for involuntary commitment transportation, jail medical services, employee health insurance and retirement contributions; the board scheduled a May 22 work session and set a May 20 public hearing.
County Manager Randy Wiggins presented the Cherokee County recommended budget for fiscal year 2026 at a special called meeting on May 6, 2025, proposing no increase to the property tax millage rate, which remains at 61 cents. Wiggins said the package reflects rising contractual and benefit costs and includes a public hearing on May 20.
The recommended budget keeps fees unchanged but contains several notable cost increases. Wiggins said contractual Involuntary Commitment (IVC) transportation costs would rise by $260,000 to a total of $500,000 (a 108% increase) and that contractual jail medical expenses would increase by $153,176 to $378,800 (a 69% increase). He attributed part of the pressure on the budget to higher employee health insurance costs and reported a $585,340 increase in the county’s contribution to employee medical insurance premiums.
Wiggins also proposed a $270,621 digital file scanning project for the Department of Social Services; he said the project is expected to be reimbursed by state funds at 60%, yielding a net county cost of $108,248. The recommended budget includes a $400,000 contingency appropriation to address unexpected needs. Wiggins reported increases in employer retirement contribution rates under the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (LGERS) — from 13.67% to 14.43% for general employees and from 15.04% to 16.08% for law enforcement — which he said increased retirement expense by approximately $149,472. He also noted a projected $125,000 reduction in septic permitting revenues and that capital equipment replacements were included in the plan.
Wiggins summarized how the general fund is allocated, saying 69.1% of expenditures (over two-thirds) are devoted to Public Safety (30.0%), Human Services (25.9%) and Education (13.2%). He told the board that the full budget message is available in the clerk’s office and on the county website and reminded commissioners that a public hearing on the recommended budget will be held May 20.
On procedural matters, the board voted unanimously to schedule a budget work session for May 22 after a motion by Chairman Dr. Dan Eichenbaum seconded by Commissioner Mark Stiles. The board then unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Cal Stiles, seconded by Commissioner Alan Bryant, to cancel the previously scheduled May 27 work session. Commissioner Cal Stiles moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Bryant; that motion also passed unanimously.
The special called meeting minutes note that the minutes from this session were approved at the board’s regular meeting on June 16, 2025. The board will consider public comment and the May 20 hearing as it proceeds toward adoption of a final FY26 budget.
