Scott County fiscal court reviews draft budget, sets timeline for ordinance readings

Scott County Fiscal Court on May 2 reviewed a draft fiscal year 2026 budget and agreed on a timeline that would place a first reading of the budget ordinance at its May 22 business meeting and a second reading in June if the Department for Local Government (DLG) returns the draft with approval.

Judge Joe Papp opened the work session by calling the document a “draft, a working draft at this point,” and asked the court to use the intervening weeks to review and bring questions back for the May 9 and May 22 business meetings.

The court’s timetable: May 2 — review draft; May 9 — regular business meeting for additional discussion; May 22 — first reading of the budget ordinance at the 6 p.m. business meeting; June 13 — second reading if the DLG has given approval and the court wishes to proceed. The judge said the court will then submit the ordinance back to the DLG and advertise it as required.

Finance staff told the court that revenue streams appear healthy through March, with occupational payroll taxes tracking ahead of estimates and some large, irregular net profit payments that the administration treats as nonrecurring for planning purposes. Court members discussed the option of using unexpected funds to set up an escrow arrangement to accelerate payoff of a 10‑year bond for the sheriff and clerk’s office construction; staff said escrow could be used to remove debt from the county’s books while dedicating those funds solely to the bond payments.

Court members emphasized the document is a working draft and asked departments and staff to provide follow‑up information at the May 9 meeting so the court can refine the ordinance before the first reading on May 22.