Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp released the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year — let’s take a look at what the ~$1.09 billion budget entails.
Notably, while slightly higher than last year’s proposal, the balanced budget will not increase taxes. It focuses on public safety, infrastructure, and responsible stewardship. Key initiatives include:
Investing in county employees
Employees will receive a 1% raise, and a 10.7% increase in health insurance costs. Full-time employees will receive a one-time $750 bonus (excluding officials + the mayor’s office).
Public safety + infastructure
The budget would see these increases for public safety departments:
- Sheriff’s Department | ~$71 million, 4.1% increase
- Emergency Medical Service | ~$20 million, 4.3% increase — the quick response EMS team would also see an increase of 3.4%
- Volunteer Fire Departments | $2.4 million across seven stations
The budget also sets aside $2.55 million for paving — adding to the pre-existing $19.4 million paving investment under the Wamp Administration.
Education + school facilities
The proposal includes ~$692 million for HCS, aligning with current plans to design and construct new schools and make renovations for others — funded through a 2024 bond.
General Fund
The General Fund Revenues will have an overall increase of $3.1 million compared to 2025. Notably, the proposal outlines what the newly formed County Efficiency Task Force has identified to save $3.7 million:
- Freezing/eliminating 21 vacant positions
- Revising specific large contracts
- Replacing leased vehicles with 80% grant funded ones (about 30 vehicles)
- Reducing cell phones + streamlining efficiencies with office supplies
The Supported Agencies Division was also eliminated — head to page 18 of this doc to see the restructure.
Now, the County Commission will review the proposal over the next few weeks, with a vote happening by mid-June. Pro tip: You can see updates + past adopted budgets to compare changes through the county’s financial transparency portal.
