Walton County Board of Commissioners Approves $102 Million Budget for 2026

     The Walton County Board of Commissioners has officially adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget, setting the county on course for a year of significant investment, particularly in public safety and employee compensation. The new budget, totaling $102,365,591, marks an increase of more than $19 million compared to the previous year’s $83,234,500 allocation.

     County Manager John Ward, who presented the budget during public hearings and the regular May 6 meeting, emphasized that the increase is driven mainly by expanded funding for public safety divisions and pay raises for county employees. “The increases are due mainly to public safety across the public safety divisions and pay raises that were awarded by the commission in order to retain and fill many of the positions that have been open for quite a while,” Ward explained during the hearings.

     Extensive cuts were made in collaboration with department heads and the Board of Commissioners, including a recalculation of the county’s defined benefits program, to ensure the budget’s sustainability despite the substantial increase.

     Commission Chairman David Thompson highlighted that the budget will be balanced without raising the property tax millage rate. “This budget will be balanced by present property tax mill rates, general fund, and other sources of revenue,” Thompson stated, underscoring the county’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. He added that reserves would be used if necessary, but the plan is to rely on current revenue streams.

     A notable portion of the new budget will support the completion and operation of the county’s new public safety complex. “The new public safety complex will be complete going into this new budget year,” Thompson said, noting that the project had been recommended by multiple feasibility studies and grand jury reports. “Now it’s time to look at managing it, staffing it, and moving forward,” he added.

     During the public hearings, residents raised questions about allocations for road safety and infrastructure improvements. One resident, Roger Hail, expressed concerns about road maintenance and asked if the new budget would address longstanding issues with ditch cleaning and road safety. County officials responded that the budget includes funding for roads and bridges, with details available for public review.

     The 2026 budget was adopted following a series of public presentations, hearings, and opportunities for community feedback, reflecting the Board’s ongoing efforts to maintain transparency and community involvement in the budgeting process.

The new fiscal year budget takes effect July 1, 2025