The Monroe County commissioners adopted the 2026 budget, with no new tax increases, by a 2-1 1 vote.

Commissioner Chairman John Christy and Commissioner Sharon Laverdure voted in favor of the budget, while Commissioner David Parker voted against it.

“While I appreciate that we we’re not increasing the millage rate and taxes this year, I do think we need to make a better effort to control spending,” Parker said.

Parker went on to say that they held meetings to work on the budget and there were some expenditures that he doesn’t approve.

“I think we need to be watching that closely, because every year is another opportunity that we might have to increase revenues if our expenses keep growing,” he said.

The budget amount is $151.5 million. The general fund balance is $89.2 million, while the county’s capital reserve fund is $8,752,623. The Liquid Fuels budget is $467,500.

The county millage rate is unchanged at 5.4773 mills total, said Jennifer Barclay, the director of Fiscal Affairs. Of that total, 4.9177 mills is for general purposes, and the debt service obligation is 0.5596 mills.

“Just under 90% will be utilized for general purposes and the balance will be used to satisfy our debt service obligation, which increases in 2026 by $555,000,” Barclay said.

The Eastern Monroe Public Library millage rate is 0.185914 mills.

Barclay said nonunion employees will receive increases on their work anniversary date. The increases will be based on their time in their position. A new longevity policy will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, for nonunion employees.

Employees who reach five years of employment will receive an additional $250. For years six through nine, the longevity bonus will increase by $25 each year. At year 10, the bonus will be increased by $150. That will bring the total longevity bonus in year 10 to $500.

For years 11 to 14, the bonus will increase by $25 each year. At year 15, the bonus will increase by $150, bringing the total longevity bonus to $750.

Again, years 16 through 19 will increase by $25 each year, and in year 20, it will increase by $150. The total is then $1,000 per year. After that, there are no increases until the employee reaches another five-year milestone. At each five-year milestone, the employee will get an additional $1,000 through year 40.

Barclay also went over the increases and decreases in the various departments. There was a net decrease of $126,655 in the budget for 2026. But the budget she presented for final approval was $650,210 more than the budget she presented on Nov. 26, due to increases she listed for the commissioners.

Some of these include an increase of $15,003 for Domestic Relations; an increase of $761,862 in Children and Youth for its 2026-27 needs-based budget; $13,770 for both court administration and magisterial district justices; $69,000 in the Office Emergency Management; and an increase of $72,600 for capital equipment.