Wayne County adopts $291.2 million budget with no property tax increase after work‑session amendments

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners adopted a $291.2 million fiscal 2627 budget on June 2 after a prolonged work session that included line‑by‑line reviews of departmental budgets, fee schedules and capital priorities.

County staff presented a recommended budget that preserves the current property tax rate (0.6259 per $100 valuation) and proposes no tax increase. The recommended plan includes 11 new full‑time positions, $5.5 million of fund balance use and continued priorities for public safety, schools and county facilities. After public hearings and a multi‑hour work session, commissioners approved targeted amendments before final adoption.

Key adjustments the board approved included a $500,000 one‑time reallocation from the restricted school sales‑tax fund to the school district’s small capital projects line (intended to create short‑term flexibility for school maintenance and allow district current‑expense reallocations), a modest $30 per month increase for T‑hangar rents at the Wayne Executive Jetport, and a $10,000 combined appropriation for two aging‑services volunteer programs ($5,000 each). The board also confirmed its earlier decision to remove and table the proposed personnel certification policy amendments for further study.

During the review commissioners pressed staff on unfunded state mandates (the county manager earlier provided a detailed cost breakdown of mandated, hybrid and discretionary functions), enterprise funds that should be self‑supporting, and the competitiveness of fee schedules (building permits, airport hangars, farmers market). Finance staff committed to follow‑up analyses on cost recovery for enterprise funds and a comparison of subdivision and hangar rates with peer counties.

The motion to approve the budget as amended passed by roll call with one commissioner voting no. County leaders said the budget preserves service levels while asking departments to continue pursuing efficiencies and fee‑based revenue where appropriate.

Next steps: staff will publish the adopted budget and prepare any required budget ordinance adjustments and fee ordinance updates; the board scheduled follow‑up reviews on fees and enterprise fund performance.