By DANIEL TAYLOR, Correspondent
GUNTERSVILLE — It’s budget time in Marshall County as the district commissioners and department heads work to finalize their spending before the start of the new fiscal year.
The Marshall County Commission held a hearing on Aug. 27, during which it discussed the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes a 6.5% increase in the general gund, totaling $1,102,066.64.
That brings the total anticipated revenue and expenses for the fund to $18,058,966.92.
According to County Administrator Ashleigh Bubbett, nearly all of the increase is due to the 4% merit and cost-of-living raises for county employees, plus estimated hikes in employee health insurance and retirement contributions.
Other expenses include $311,445 for the upcoming elections, $698,255 for data processing, $346,535,96 for animal control, just under $5 million for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and about $4.2 million for the Marshall County Jail.
The budget is subject to change and won’t be final until approved by the Commission.
In other budget-related items, the Commission discussed increasing the Revenue Commission operating fund budget by $255,000 for building renovations at the new Albertville location, as per the amended lease agreement option, to be paid out of the prior year’s unspent revenues. No action was taken.
The Commission also approved the application for county membership to Coosa Valley Youth Services for about $314,772, to be included in the FY 2026 budget. The cost includes a guaranteed seven beds for juvenile inmates, with additional beds available as needed at no extra cost.
Additionally, the Commission approved a resolution for the issuance of $34.925 million of general obligation warrants, Series 2025, to help finance the cost of the new jail addition approved by the Commission at its December 2024 meeting.
In other business, the Commission:
Approved resolutions for county alcohol licenses for retail beer (off-premises) License Type 50 and Retail Table Wine (off-premises) License Type 70 for the Jet Pep 8 located at 8191 Highway 69 Arab; Union Grove Food Town located at 3755 Union Grove Road; Union Grove; and SK Quick Mart located at 4531 Horton Road, Albertville.
Approved moving forward with the alcohol license application and set a public hearing to be held on Sept. 10 for High Point Grocery on High Point Road in Albertville for retail beer (off-premises only) and retail wine (off-premises only).
Approved a 15 mph residential speed limit on Lee Ann Lane located in District 1.
Approved the redivision of lots 42 and 52 of Buck Island Shores into lots 42, 52 and 52A located in District 2.
Approved the FY 2026 county transportation plan.
Approved a resolution confirming and ratifying the levy of countywide 40-12-4 sales tax in favor of the Albertville City Board of Education.
Approved a resolution amending the subrecipient agreement for the water infrastructure project using federal pandemic relief funds.
Approved issuance of certificates of deposit: $5 million for 12 months at both Liberty Bank and Citizens Bank.
Approved the secondary opioid manufacturer allocation agreement.
Sheriff Phil Sims speaks to the Marshall County Commission during a budget hearing Aug. 27 in Guntersville. DANIEL TAYLOR | SPECIAL TO THE LEADER
