October 13th 2026 Clinton County Board Meeting - Public Budget

The Clinton County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget on October 13, 2026. The General Fund proposal was approximately $32.56 million, about $1.2 million (3.9%) above the amended 2026 budget. Revenues and expenditures were presented as balanced, although the current projection showed a revenue shortfall of less than $39,000 that staff said would be reconciled during budget development. The board did not vote to adopt the budget; adoption was scheduled for the October 27 meeting. The presentation also noted a proposed $2.4 million pension contribution and a projected 6.9% increase in health insurance premiums, with actual enrollment costs still to be determined.

Technology and capital spending were discussed as ongoing budget priorities. The county is planning a transition from on-site servers to cloud-based services and expects changes to law-enforcement systems, including CAD, jail management, and records management; software and support costs are rising even as equipment and infrastructure costs decline. Officials said they are evaluating AI solutions and seeking to maintain reserves for capital and technology projects. A commissioner raised possible purchasing-policy updates and smart fees to help control construction and capital costs, but no specific procurement action or contract award was approved. The board also discussed a newly incorporated city–township water and sewer authority as a potential basis for future cooperative work.