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Douglas County adopts $648M-plus FY2026-27 budget; one commissioner votes no over oversight concerns
Summary
The Board approved the FY2026-27 budget after debate over oversight and tax impact. CFO Laurie Pirsch said the total budget is up about 5.3% year-over-year; the property-tax-supported general fund is up roughly 2.5%. Commissioner Kavanaugh voted no, citing insufficient department-level hearings and likely tax-bill increases tied to increased assessed valuation.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved the FY2026-27 annual budget after public comment and an extended discussion among commissioners focused on oversight and valuation-driven tax impacts.
"If we approve this here today, we will have had less than an hour discussion for every $100,000,000 in this budget," Commissioner Kavanaugh said, arguing the board should reinstate department-level hearings to exercise stronger oversight. He said the county's estimated taxable valuation increase of 5.79% will push many taxpayers' bills higher even without a mill levy increase.
County CFO Laurie Pirsch responded with the budget details presented by staff: the total budget increase year over year is 5.3%, while the portion funded by property tax (the general fund) is up about 2.5% over last year's final modified budget. "The increase year over year is 5.3% for the total budget," Pirsch said, and she described how some funds (roads, inheritance tax allocations) are not property-tax funded.
Commissioners Morgan, Rogers, Paulson and Friend voiced support for the process or commended staff for keeping spending under control; several public commenters and the League representative urged more transparency and extended opportunities for review. A motion to adopt the budget (Rogers; second Morgan) passed, with Commissioner Cavanaugh recorded as voting no and the other commissioners voting yes.
The board did not set additional procedural steps in the meeting record beyond approving the budget; public commenters and multiple commissioners urged improvements to transparency and more opportunities for department-level review going forward.
