MONTGOMERY COUNTY LAUNCHING 2026-27 BUDGET PROCESS

Community Impact reports that work is set to begin on the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget by Montgomery County commissioners. They have a proposed calendar that schedules out months of department meetings, presentations to the public, budget workshops and, on September 8^th, a final adoption.

Budget Officer Amanda Carter said that on April 9^th the budget calendar launched the Fiscal Year 2026-27 process with a formal effort to get underway scheduled for the next Commissioners Court meeting on April 23^rd.

The first phase of budget development, according to the county’s budget schedule goes from April 9^th to July 15^th. The budget process includes training, budget packet distribution and meetings between the budget office, department heads and election officials about their funding needs.

Per the calendar, April 27^th through May 1^st, the county departments would receive budget training and budget packets. Following that, from May 7^th through May 12^th, the budget office is scheduled to meet with individual departments and elected officials.

According to Carter’s presentation, the process is divided up into three stages, which are development of the budget, workshops and preliminary budget and adoption with compensation updates.

From July 15^th through August 14^th the preliminary budget and workshop phase is underway. This is followed, from August 17^th through 30^th, by adoption and compensation updates.

Through July 15^th to 17^th, the preliminary budget is scheduled to be distributed to departments for review. Next it’s filed with the county clerk and county auditor to allow for public inspection on July 21^st.

On August 6^th, a public presentation on the preliminary budget will be held. The presentation will be followed by budget workshops August 11^th through 14^th.

At the August 6^th meeting, citizen comments on the preliminary budget are scheduled. On September 8^th, public hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget and tax rate are planned. On the 8^th, commissioners are expected to adopt the budget. On September 17^th, the county’s compensation program will return to Commissioners Court after the budget adoption. According to the county’s presentation and budget calendar, the first paycheck with 2026-27 rates is scheduled for October 30^th.