Commissioners set July 27 budget session, approve court stipend ordinance and flag gas-tax reimbursement uncertainty

Warren County commissioners confirmed the county’s budget timetable and moved several budget-related votes during their meeting.

The board set the county’s budget session for Monday, July 27 (8:30 a.m. for the budget meeting, with the regular meeting at 8 a.m.) and staff said revenue estimates and assessed values will be added to the budget workbook once they are available.

The commissioners then reviewed and approved the 2026 salary ordinance (2026-0616B) authorizing stipends tied to court grants. The ordinance lists gross stipend amounts that will be paid as lump-sum grant-funded payments; commissioners and staff reiterated the payments are drawn from grant lines and that net take-home amounts will be reduced by taxes and retirement contributions. The board approved the ordinance by motion and voice vote.

Commissioners also approved an additional appropriation of $24,000 to pay fiscal-plan consultant fees (Peters and Franklin) and agreed to include the expense on a separate budget line to track the cost in future years.

Board members discussed the state’s temporary gas-tax suspension and its effects on highway and street funding. One participant relayed that municipalities were told reimbursement would be available; another speaker on the dais disputed that characterization. Commissioners said they expect more detail from state guidance and flagged that county highway budgets could be materially affected in the interim.

Staff briefed commissioners on an ongoing facilities assessment and said consultants will return in July with recommended energy-efficiency fixes and prioritized capital items for county buildings.

The meeting closed with routine procedural items and direction to return corrected abatements and budget figures at upcoming meetings.