The Carroll County Commission adopted its budget for fiscal year 2026 on Friday, Jan. 30, having to turn to deficit spending amid a lawsuit filed in late December by the county’s E-911 board.

The lawsuit, filed by emergency services boards in Carroll, Saline and Putnam counties against their county commissions, seeks use tax revenues equivalent to the sales tax rate used to fund dispatching services. Carroll County Presiding Commissioner Stan Falke says with the lawsuit pending, up to a half-million dollars in use tax revenue will have to be held in escrow. He adds that despite the escrow, county offices should not feel the impact this year.
.

Falke says deficit spending for this year could total $1.2 million.

Commissioners also dealt with a reduction in state and federal funding for bridge replacement projects.

Presiding Commissioner Stan Falke said no objections were raised when Carroll County commissioners gave the budget its final approval Friday. Falke says commissioners will address BRO funding and a proposed bill impacting funding sources for waste management when they visit Jefferson City this week for Great Northwest Day.