Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Athens County adopts 2026 temporary budgets; commissioners note jail and capital pressures
Summary
The board adopted the 2025 budget as the 2026 temporary General Fund baseline and approved outside-fund temporary budgets; commissioners flagged a $250,000 regional jail increase and capital needs for cruisers and radios while directing conservative medical insurance estimates.
The Athens County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 23 to adopt the county's 2025 original budget as the 2026 temporary General Fund baseline and to approve a comprehensive set of 2026 Temporary Outside Fund Budgets for departments across the county.
Commissioners said the temporary adoption preserves operational continuity while staff reconcile actuals before final adoption. They highlighted several pressures: a projected $250,000 increase in regional jail costs, modest increases for landfill testing, and capital needs for sheriff cruisers and radios. The board agreed to use the Capital Improvements line to address cruiser and radio purchases and urged departments not to implement raises that exceed their temporary salary lines.
The board also approved extensive outside-fund temporary budgets for DJFS, the Engineer's Office, Children Services, EMS, the Health Department, ARPA allocations, Beacon School funds and dozens of other funds; a complete listing is maintained in the Auditor's Office. Auditor Jill Davidson presented Temporary Amended Certificates and recommended using the temporary certificate total for immediate planning.
Commissioners discussed budgeting for health insurance, noting some departments had modeled 2026 using a 27-pay schedule plus a 4% increase and that staff would rebase lines using 2025 actuals with targeted adjustments for known changes.
Separately, the board ratified a Port Authority resolution authorizing an application for a $1,323,600 rural industrial park loan and approved a consulting allocation (approximately $50,000 from contingency) to pursue potential congressional earmark funding for sewer projects in Guysville/Stewart.
