Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Wednesday, presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the Hamilton County Commission, focused on public safety, infrastructure, workforce development, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars—all without raising taxes despite inflationary pressures and rising healthcare costs.
“This budget includes investments in public safety, roads, and county employees while continuing to protect families from higher taxes,” said Mayor Wamp. “Hamilton County is proving that responsible growth, strong public services, and fiscal discipline can go hand in hand.”
Public safety remains a central priority in the FY27 proposal, with more than $4.8 million in additional investments directed toward Hamilton County EMS, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Volunteer Fire Departments, Emergency Management, Juvenile Detention and 911. The budget also supports innovative public safety and public health initiatives, including the county’s nationally recognized Overdose Prevention Team.
The proposal includes approximately $3.5 million for road improvements and paving projects across the county, building on the administration’s long-term commitment to infrastructure and safe, reliable roads for residents. Since 2022, the county has paved more than 230 lane miles, exceeding the number of lane miles paved in prior years. With this additional $3.5 million investment, the county will have committed more than $15 million toward the County Roads Improvement Fund.
To better reflect the interests of citizens living in unincorporated communities, the proposed budget includes
$919,000 to establish a Hamilton County Planning Department, creating a new division focused solely on county-specific growth and development issues.
Maintaining the county’s historic investment in career and technical education, the FY27 proposal includes funding for career advisors at all three Future Ready Centers—including the new downtown Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center—bolstering economic development by connecting employers with their future workforce.
In addition, the budget includes a two percent across-the-board pay increase for county employees, representing a $2.5 million investment in recruitment and retention for the nearly 2,000 public servants who support county operations every day.
The FY27 budget proposal will move through the County Commission review process in the coming weeks, with a vote expected on June 17.
