Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Tax Levies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Adams County commissioners vote to send three property-tax levies to May ballot, approve $326,908 in bills and transfers
Summary
On Jan. 26, 2026, the Adams County Board of Commissioners approved resolutions to place proposed levies for EMS, Children Services and the Board of Developmental Disabilities on the May 5 ballot, authorized $326,908.58 in bill payments and approved supplemental and cash transfers.
Adams County commissioners on Jan. 26 voted to place three proposed property-tax levies on the May 5, 2026 primary ballot and approved more than $326,900 in departmental bills and transfers.
President Kelly Jones, Vice-President Barbara Moore Holt and Commissioner Jason Hayslip approved a slate of routine payments and departmental line items totaling $326,908.58, recorded as Resolution No. 2026-034. The bill list covered ambulance/EMS supplies, auditor and clerk of courts expenses, sheriff and court services, engineering materials and job/family services disbursements.
The board also approved Resolution No. 2026-035 to move $13,979.53 from an equipment line (165-162-5350) to a local-share OPWC account (165-163-5407) and a cash transfer of $68,670.20 from 015-169-5902 to the County General fund (001-107-4255). Commissioners noted the Certificate of Title Fund’s 2025 excess funds were returned to County General for other county purposes.
In a series of levy actions, the board approved putting a proposed 3.5-mill, five-year levy for Adams County Emergency Medical Services on the May ballot (Resolution No. 2026-037). The county auditor estimated the levy would generate $2,874,966 annually. The board recorded that, should voters reject the levy, countywide EMS funding would not be available and the responsibility for EMS could revert to townships.
Commissioners next approved a proposed 1.5-mill, five-year levy for Adams County Children Services, including support for placements such as Wilson Children’s Home; the county auditor estimated annual revenue of $1,232,128 if the levy is adopted (Resolution No. 2026-038). The board also agreed to submit a proposed 2.0-mill, 10-year levy for the Adams County Board of Developmental Disabilities beginning in 2027, after ACBDD leaders said rising waiver-match costs will deplete current funds (Resolution No. 2026-039). County officials stressed the board’s condition that any new levy be paired with repeal of the current levy so taxpayers would not be double‑taxed.
Separately, County Prosecutor Aaron Haslam requested a meeting with the Adams County Health Department, Treasurer Lisa Newman, Auditor David Gifford and EMS Chief Dusty McCleese to resolve outstanding issues related to EMS billing funds. The commissioners also authorized President Kelly Jones to sign a Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Adams County Welcome Center as provided by TSHD Architects (Resolution No. 2026-040). Commissioner Hayslip said the RFQ for a jail project manager should be advertised next week. The meeting adjourned that day.
Why this matters: The three levies, if approved by voters, would provide recurring local tax revenue intended to maintain county services for emergency medical response, child welfare and supports for people with developmental disabilities. If any levy fails, the county indicated it may not be able to continue funding those services at current levels.
Provenance: The article summarizes actions and remarks recorded across the commission’s Jan. 26, 2026 meeting, including the bill roll call and line items, supplemental and cash transfers, and the full texts and votes tied to Resolutions Nos. 2026-034, 2026-035, 2026-037, 2026-038, 2026-039 and 2026-040.
