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Commission adopts tentative 2026 budget after wide-ranging presentation from Clerk-Auditor
Summary
Clerk-Auditor Ryan Sullivan presented Washington County's tentative 2026 budget covering 23 funds; commissioners discussed growth-driven revenue increases, rising public-safety costs, planned projects, and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment before adopting the tentative budget for further amendment and public hearing.
Clerk-Auditor Ryan Sullivan delivered the county's tentative 2026 budget presentation, describing 23 funds and significant changes from the prior year. He told commissioners the General Fund would see an increase driven by new growth and sales taxes and flagged a notable rise in public-safety expenses tied to jail expansion, deputy pay adjustments, and other law-enforcement costs. Sullivan also reviewed transportation and road-fund projects, tourism and transient-room-tax (TRT) revenues and projects, and grant-funded work including the Zion sewer project.
Sullivan said the budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase and merit adjustments, and emphasized that much of the budget growth reflects pass-through or grant-funded projects rather than new county taxes. "This is probably the most important thing that the County Commission is tasked with doing," he told the board, and commissioners discussed fund transfers, grant passthroughs, and the county's low per-capita tax standing relative to other counties. The commission approved the tentative 2026 budget and also voted to open the 2025 budget for amendment to record new revenues and expenses ahead of a public hearing.
