Franklin County fiscal court advances $56.98M budget, earmarks opioid grants including $67,500 for Yes Arts

Franklin County Judge Mueller presented a proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget totaling $56,976,390 at the fiscal court work session on April 29, and magistrates moved to receive the proposal and consider a set of outside agency grants funded partly from opioid-abatement dollars.

Treasurer Amy told the court the overall package was $56,976,390 and, excluding capital expenses and federal projects, was $44,969,390. She said the packet reflected updated insurance and revenue figures, including a $79,500 dividend that reduced the draw on reserves. Amy described the multi-step process: departments submit requests in March, the judge and treasurer refine the draft and it goes before the finance committee and then the committee of the whole before the court acts.

A major focus of the discussion was distribution of opioid‑abatement and outside‑agency grant funds (Fund 74). Amy said Fund 74 currently held roughly $490,000 and a committee recommendation of $167,500 was available for outside‑agency grants; the court…