Proposed 2027 budget holds taxes and jobs steady while most departments’ funding stays flat.

Budget season is in full bloom for county council.

During an Oct. 21 public hearing, County Manager John Fournier presented the administration’s proposed operating budget, which includes no tax increase or layoffs.

The proposed budget requests a 4.7% increase, a little less than half of which will go toward boosting workers’ wages.

Rising expenses that are outside of the county’s control such as for gasoline, diesel and road salt are contributing to the crunch.

“That’s putting pressure on every operating department in the county,” said Fournier. He added, though, that rising expenses have increased the county’s sales tax revenue. Hotel and drink taxes are up as well.

From a revenue standpoint, Fournier said a large factor in the county’s fiscal struggles is five years of steady or declining real estate taxes. He attributed that to the nation-wide problem of commercial real estate depreciating in value.

Had tax revenue remained on an average growth chart, the county would have approximately $30 million to add to the budget.

As a result, most departments are slated to have the same or even slightly less money in 2027 as they had this year. However, that is not the case across the board.

The public defender’s office, for example, received an increase to account for assisting residents whose cases intersect with federal immigration enforcement.

The district attorney’s office asked for the same consideration.

First Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Spangler said the DA’s office also needs additional funding to cover additional work.

“When they come to you and say they could do more with more money, they’re telling you the truth,” Fournier said, “but every county department has the exact same story and the exact same rationale. Every county department could do more with more funding.”

Council’s budget and finance committee will begin its consideration of the proposed budget during its Nov. 12 meeting.