Polk County outlines FY2027 budget plan, considers pension-match change and vehicle replacements

County staff presented a preliminary budget and timeline for fiscal year 2027 that would increase the spending plan to about $34.4 million, reflecting an estimated 6% rise in property-tax revenue compared with the prior year. The auditor's office recommended timeline steps and emphasized statutory deadlines for publishing tax-rate notices and holding public hearings.

Staff noted debt-service projections that slightly reduce the county's debt obligation in coming years and described capital priorities, including computer and law-enforcement equipment. The discussion highlighted a personnel-related option: reducing the county's retirement contribution from a current internal rate above the required minimum to the required minimum contribution (12.56%), which county staff said could free roughly $285,000 to apply to pay-scale adjustments. Commissioners expressed willingness to consider the change but did not adopt it at the meeting.

On fleet management, staff recommended replacing vehicles that had reached the end of their lease rotation and renewing leases for recommended units rather than adding new vehicles; the county would recommend new replacements for Constable Precincts 3 and 4 only. Commissioners approved motions to renew recommended vehicle leases and directed staff to include vehicle-replacement recommendations in the budget process. The court set a publication deadline for tax-rate notices and signaled plans to finalize the budget at the August 11 meeting unless additional changes require a special meeting.