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County manager presents FY2026–27 budget; commissioners ask for zero‑ and 2‑cent tax scenarios
Summary
Orange County Manager Travis Myren presented the recommended FY2026–27 budget and schedule; commissioners asked staff to prepare alternate scenarios showing a 2-cent tax increase and a no‑increase option with explicit service tradeoffs to guide amendment proposals.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners received the County Manager’s Recommended FY2026–27 Annual Operating Budget and calendar on May 5, 2026. County Manager Travis Myren outlined operating and capital proposals and said staff would present final budget documents and two public hearings on May 12 and May 28.
Why it matters: commissioners must set a tax rate that balances service levels, workforce pay, and the county’s debt-to-revenue ratio. Several commissioners asked staff to produce concrete scenarios showing the impacts of a 2-cent tax increase and a zero-cent increase so the Board can craft amendments ahead of the final public hearing.
Myren’s presentation covered projected revenues, capital needs, and debt assumptions and included a slide package (Slides #1–#34) referenced to inform the upcoming work sessions. Commissioners pressed for clarity on tradeoffs rather than asking staff to make value choices. Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford said a reduction "from 3.75 cents to 2 cents is the equivalent of $5.9 million," urging that commissioners submit specific amendments rather than instructing managers to cut personnel unilaterally. Vice‑Chair Amy Fowler cautioned that cutting revenues affects the county’s debt‑to‑revenue ratio and could raise borrowing costs.
Several commissioners, including Earl McKee, Marilyn Carter and Phyllis Portie‑Ascott, supported asking staff to prepare packages showing what discretionary programs and positions would be affected by a 2‑cent or a zero‑cent scenario. Myren said he would provide grouped discretionary reductions and the cost of items that equate to targeted revenue reductions; he reiterated that final value judgments rest with the Board.
Public commenters linked the budget to community priorities: school advocates urged fully funding the school district to avoid further educator layoffs, and an EMS representative warned that freezing planned step increases could worsen staffing shortages.
Next steps: staff will present budget work sessions with schools and departments on May 14, May 21 and May 26, leading to a resolution of intent on June 4 and a vote to adopt the budget on June 16. Commissioners were asked to submit amendment proposals by May 26 (Chair Hamilton) or May 27 (Commissioner Bedford) per the scheduling discussion.
