County Passes $15.8K Budget For FY26

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The Dade County Board of Commissioners held one public hearing about the FY26 budget on June 20 (see the June 25 Sentinel), and seven days later, they unanimously adopted the budget. Phillip Hartline (Sand Mountain commissioner) was absent from the June 27 meeting, and Melissa Bradford (Lookout Mountain commissioner) joined via phone.

In the intervening week, the total estimated revenue jumped to a $498,000 increase from FY25. The budget is now balanced with revenues and expenses both equaling $15,820,000.

Of the increased revenue, Don Townsend (county executive) cited various assessment value increases. He also explained that sales on GovDeals.com have been doing well, so the county estimates an additional $15,000 from these sales.

The elections office also anticipates collecting $24,000 total from the City of Trenton for its election and Dade County Board of Education (for the E-SPLOST referendum) this fall.

Cuts and a few increases made to a number of departments (plus the $101,000 revenue increase) addressed last week’s $350,000 deficit. For example, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office budget was cut by $92,300 while the Dade County Jail went up by $6,300 and the Dade County Public Library went up by $3,000.

The Board of Commissioners Administration budget went down by $15,500. Townsend explained that this cut came from contracted services, general supplies, and an electricity entry that had accidentally been duplicated.

Public Health had a $61,900 cut due to some savings, Economic Development had a $27,600 cut, and other departments had other minor cuts (which seem to be due to the COLA decrease).

Towsend explained that the county opted for a two-and-a-half percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all employees instead of four percent, saving $103,000 throughout the budget. Meanwhile, the commissioners will not be getting a raise because it was not approved by the state.