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Warren County commissioners adopt 2027 tax budget after review of revenue shifts
Summary
Warren County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the county's 2027 tax budget, setting revenue benchmarks that account for removing roughly $33 million in property-tax revenue and adding a half-percent permissive sales tax projected at about $28 million. Commissioners directed staff to refine appropriations in fall hearings.
Warren County Commissioners adopted the county's 2027 tax budget after a public hearing and discussion about revenue assumptions and carryover. County budget staff told the board the general revenue appropriation request is $99,957,676 and that anticipated general-fund revenue for 2027 is about $108 million.
The budget presentation explained the staff removed roughly $33 million in property-tax revenue linked to a policy change and assumed a half-percent permissive sales/use tax that staff project will bring in about $28 million, leaving a roughly $5 million gap reflected in the revenue estimate. Staff described the tax budget as a starting point that certifies available revenue; department appropriations and adjustments will be refined during fall hearings.
Budget staff said the full-county anticipated expense for general and non-general funds is about $305 million. They noted the county is maintaining a rainy-day fund established in 2020 of $13.5 million and that the county is exercising conservative revenue forecasting while it completes departmental reviews. Staff also described how non-general-fund programs such as sewer projects may rely on carryover balances to cover shortfalls in 2027.
Commissioners asked staff for clearer paperwork showing the line-item sources of the $108 million in general-fund revenue; staff agreed to provide a detailed revenue breakout in the coming weeks to aid review. The board also discussed legal limits and precedents for allocating budget amounts to elected offices and noted courts can seek orders in contested cases.
After discussion the board approved a resolution adopting the 2027 tax budget by roll call vote: Mrs. Jones, Mr. Gman and Mr. Young voted yes. The adoption establishes the revenue benchmark; the board directed staff to continue departmental hearings and produce refined appropriations in the regular budget process.
The county also passed a separate resolution requesting the auditor certify figures for a proposed renewal of the senior-services levy (see related coverage).
