Madison County adopts $2026–27 budget, sets property tax rate at 1.8736

Madison County commissioners adopted the county————— fiscal year 2026————————27 budget and set the real property tax rate at 1.8736 during their June 25 meeting at the Madison County Health Department. Commissioner Alexander moved to adopt the budget; the motion carried by voice vote.

The county announced a 2.7% across-the-board pay increase for employees and a package of capital investments. Speakers said the budget includes about $5.5 million in county capital spending and roughly $3 million for education capital, including purchases of school buses, roof work and studies for North Side and South Side high schools. The board allocated $775,000 for safety and traffic improvements at East Elementary and $1.5 million for off-site improvements related to the Pope project, officials said.

Commissioner Deon and the mayor praised department heads and committee members for cooperation during a year of constrained requests and emphasized that the adopted budget is smaller than last year. Commissioner Ell asked for and received a figure stated during the meeting; the clerk later read the adopted tax rate as 1.8736. Commissioners also expressed concern about the timing of budget packets and asked that future budgets be available earlier for review.

The board adopted a series of year-end amendments and transfers bundled by committee recommendation, including multiple line-item corrections and fund-balance draws for school programs. A late school-board request to draw approximately $694,247.19 from fund balance to cover two Pre-K classes that exceeded grant funding was approved after the board suspended the rules.

The budget vote concluded routine business; commissioners invited colleagues to a brief post-meeting breakfast before adjourning.