Douglas County commissioners will kick off their annual budget process with a series of public hearings set to begin Monday, July 7.
The proposed 2026 budget holds the mill levy, or property tax rate, flat; however, that will still mean a tax increase for most property owners as assessed values have increased countywide.
Total assessed property valuation increased 5.7% this year, according to a county news release on Thursday. That’s slightly less than the 6.8% increase from the previous year, and the average increase of 7.73% from 2021 to 2025.
In addition, commissioners will still consider $8.5 million in additional funding requests from county departments and area agencies that were not included in the proposed budget.
The proposed budget of $191.4 million is available at this link.
“County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said the proposed budget accounts for higher costs in services and materials such as software and road and bridge supplies,” according to the release.
The budget increases the county’s portion of shared Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical costs to 38.25% from 36%, according to the release, and would restore a portion of cuts the City of Lawrence has called for.
“These increased funds will preserve many of LDCFM’s current resource levels, including seven 24-hour ambulances, six Battalion Chiefs and a Training Lieutenant,” according to the release. “As a result, the number of full-time positions that would be eliminated in 2026 has decreased from 18 to 10. Due to current vacancies, no existing LDCFM employees would be laid off.”
The proposal also includes $16.5 million in funding for more than 40 local agencies and nonprofits focused on behavioral health and substance use disorder ($10.3 million); at-risk and targeted populations ($2.4 million); health and human services ($1.8 million); heritage and land management ($1.1 million) and economic development ($736,000), according to the release.
Public hearings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, July 7-10, at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.
Those who are interested can attend in person or via Zoom, and recordings of the hearings will be available afterward. Further information and links will be posted on the county’s website at this link.
Commissioners will then begin their deliberations at 9 a.m. Monday, July 14.
They will likely give the budget final approval following a public hearing at their Wednesday, Aug. 27 meeting.
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