Jackson County Council adopts 2026 budgets for county and multiple taxing units; approves additional appropriation and bond readings

The Jackson County Council on Oct. 15 adopted the county's 2026 budget and the budgets of multiple binding units, approved an additional appropriation for county needs and completed readings on a bond ordinance authorizing up to $5 million in borrowing.

Councilman Brady Riley performed a second reading of the budgets and called for individual motions approving each taxing unit's 2026 appropriation. The minutes list each ordinance and resolution along with its amount; examples recorded include Brownstown Central Comm. School Corp. at $20,389,216 and Jackson County at $34,005,696. According to the minutes, every listed adoption was approved on a voice vote with six yes votes and no recorded dissents.

On the same agenda the council handled Additional Appropriation Ordinance #38, which the minutes list as three line items: $120,000 to the Correctional Facility Fund for inmate medical costs; $1,046 to the County Highway Fund for capital outlays (office computers); and $2,016.96 to the County General Fund for deputy overtime reimbursement. Turner moved to approve the ordinance on first reading; the minutes record unanimous approval and a later second‑reading motion by John Nolting carried 6–0 (the minute entry omits the name of the seconder for the second reading).

Riley performed the first reading of General Obligation Bond Ordinance #39, which the minutes say would authorize issuance of up to $5 million for county facility improvements, equipment purchases and incidental expenses. Brian Thompson moved to approve on first reading (seconded by Jacquelyn Jasinski) and the motion carried 6–0. The second reading was by title only; Thompson moved to adopt on second reading (seconded by Ryan Brett Turner) and the motion carried 6–0. The council also voted to engage a placement agent to assist with rate shopping for the bond; that motion, moved by Thompson and seconded by Amanda Lowery, carried 6–0.

The minutes record routine roll calls and unanimous voice votes on each of the listed budget adoptions and ordinances. No formal amendments or recorded no votes were documented in the minutes.

Next steps noted in the minutes: publication and signature of the minutes. The minutes do not specify further timelines for bond issuance, placement‑agent engagement milestones, or dates for any public hearings related to those financial actions.