Fulton County commissioners adopt 2026 budget with no tax increase; approve $230,699 grant for 911 systems

Fulton County commissioners adopted the county’s 2026 budget and approved a series of routine but consequential administrative actions during a Dec. 30 meeting at the commissioners’ office.

Commissioner Steven L. Wible moved to adopt the proposed 2026 budget as presented by Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed and CFO Mike Lamb; the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve Resolution 8 of 2025, the Tax Levy and Appropriation Resolution, which the board recorded as containing no increase in county taxes for fiscal year 2026. The commissioners present — Randy H. Bunch (chair), Steven L. Wible (vice-chair) and Hervey P. Hann — voted in favor of both measures.

The meeting also included actions affecting local authorities and emergency communications. Commissioners met with representatives of the Bedford Fulton Joint Recreational Authority (BFJRA) — Matthew Wakefield, Paul Johnston and Eric Weisbrod — and adopted Resolution 9 of 2025, amending the BFJRA articles of incorporation to increase the number of board members. The board adopted Resolution 10 of 2025 to authorize the BFJRA to appoint police officers who would have the same rights as other police officers in the Commonwealth with respect to Authority property. Commissioner Wible moved to appoint Craig Cutchall to a one-year term on the BFJRA, with the term expiring Jan. 3, 2027; the appointment was approved unanimously.

EMA/911 Director Brian Barton and HR Administrator Mary Huston presented a State Interconnectivity Grant to support multiple maintenance projects for the county’s emergency communications systems. Commissioner Wible moved to accept the grant totaling $230,699.51, earmarked for SouthCentral Mountain CAD and CHE maintenance, Fulton NG911 GIS maintenance, a SouthCentral Mountain battery upgrade, and Fulton ILEC maintenance; the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Hann moved to approve an agreement to retain Keller Engineer, Inc. for the 2026 fiscal year; the board voted to authorize formal appointment of Keller Engineer at the commissioners’ reorganizational meeting on Jan. 6, 2026. Commissioners also approved the December 2025 pension report as presented by HR Administrator Mary Huston and authorized Planning Commission meeting dates for FY 2026 as presented by Justin Evans, per diem mapping and planning director.

Personnel actions included the hiring of Troy Wagaman as a Per Diem 911 dispatcher, effective pending required clearances; the Salary Board met briefly at 9:48 a.m. to set Wagaman’s salary. A short executive session for personnel matters was held from 10:01 a.m. to 10:29 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of Dec. 23, 2025 minutes: motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Accounts payable (Dec. 30, 2025) — $112,913.87: motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Resolution 9 of 2025 (BFJRA articles — increase board members): motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Resolution 10 of 2025 (BFJRA authority to appoint police officers): motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Appointment: Craig Cutchall to BFJRA (term to Jan. 3, 2027): motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Resolution 8 of 2025 (Tax Levy and Appropriation — no tax increase for 2026): motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- December 2025 Pension Report: motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Adoption of 2026 budget: motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Agreement to retain Keller Engineer, Inc. for FY 2026: motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- State Interconnectivity Grant ($230,699.51): motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Planning Commission meeting dates for FY 2026 (advertisement): motion by Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)
- Hire of Troy Wagaman, Per Diem 911 dispatcher (pending clearances): motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; unanimous approval. (Yes: Bunch, Wible, Hann)

The meeting record shows routine approvals and personnel actions; no contested votes or recorded dissent were reported.