Franklin County proposes 3‑cent real estate tax and 2% meals tax increases to fund school and county needs; broadband builds continue

County Administrator Steve Sandy proposed a FY27 spending plan the board described as a “maintenance of effort” budget that increases available funding for the schools while adding modest county capital and personnel investments. To cover operating and capital gaps, the proposal would raise the real estate tax rate from 43¢ to 46¢ per $100 of assessed value and increase the county meals tax from 4% to 6%.

Sandy said projected revenue growth plus the proposed tax changes would generate roughly $8 million to cover school operating increases, county needs and limited new positions. He described the budget as measured and noted continued state budget uncertainty and inflationary pressures affecting personnel, transportation, and social services costs.

“Given state funding uncertainty and growing mandates such as CSA and rising health insurance and minimum‑wage costs, the proposed adjustments give us a path to fund school operating increases and to continue key county investments,” Sandy said. He also flagged a state legislative effort to allow localities to pursue a 1% sales‑tax referendum restricted to school construction; if enacted and approved by voters it could unlock multi‑million‑dollar capacity for major school projects.

Broadband and other operational updates In a separate presentation earlier, broadband partners and county staff reported build progress: 102 miles of fiber have been hung in the county, with testing and tail splicing underway on multiple routes and phased turnovers planned this year. Rob Taylor (project partner) described marketing plans (postcards, signup days, a public web map at myriver.net/fiberbuild) and said crews expect to complete many of the route handovers and begin customer installs over the coming months.

Health insurance: TLC renewal and board action The board also considered the county’s employee health renewal. Pierce Group presented Local Choice (TLC) renewal underwriting and recommended staying with TLC; the pool‑based plan requested a 10.2% increase driven principally by specialty drug costs and formulary changes. The board voted to remain in the TLC pool and deferred the final county/employee contribution split to a March 24 budget work session.

What comes next The board set a schedule for budget work sessions (March 19 and March 24), a public hearing on April 14 and tentative rate adoption on April 21; staff emphasized the county must advertise a proposed tax rate to meet statutory deadlines, even where the final adopted rate may be lower. County staff also said they will continue to coordinate with the school division on capital priorities and procurement options following the Lee Wade vote.

Local context Residents and teachers addressed the board at length in public comment, urging full school funding for teacher pay, transportation and facility repairs and raising concerns about board transparency and prior governance actions. Supervisors said they will weigh those appeals alongside fiscal constraints and procurement rules before adopting final rates.