JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
County Mayor David Jackson recently shared the county’s monthly budget reports. He additionally discussed the current rates of countywide property taxes and new budget amounts for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
Mayor Jackson detailed to members of the County Commission various numbers in budgets for the county government, noting a decrease in mental health transport totaling $6,536.30. He also brought up a decrease in the general fund balance, which now totals to $4,100. Mayor Jackson further mentioned additional decreases, with a decrease in federal state funds being mentioned, while a neighborhood grant of $13,176 provided to the Sherriff’s Department was also shared. Several expenses within the monthly budget were stated to be moved around to help cover several payroll shortcomings, with a total of $434,146.90 spent to help cover said shortcomings. The aforementioned expenses are based around the county’s various public offices, as well as salaries for employees.
During discussion of the county’s property tax rate, Jackson announced no countywide property tax increase will be in effect for this year. However, he explained the inside rate for Richard City’s school district is slightly lower in numbers, with the rate being $1.5948. He explained the reason is because Richard City Memorial School did not pay into a given rural debt service, thus leading to a slight decrease in the internal rate. Despite this, the outside rate remains at $1.7603, the same amount as the previous fiscal year.
The county’s fiscal year of 2025/2026 was also discussed during the Commission’s recent public meeting. This fiscal year’s budget expenditures have added up to $17,049,917. The county’s fund balance currently stands at $9,715,809. Mayor Jackson reported the Commission will lose up to $250,000 in funding due to the current ratio on property and utility expenses, particularly with recent appraisals conducted on local housing, causing the Commission to lose the given amount of funds from the state.
Despite the everything which was discussed, all members of the County Commission unanimously approved not only the county’s budgets amendments but also both tax rates, as well as the county’s budget for the new 2025/2026 fiscal year.
