Office of County Commissioner Precinct 1
Christina Drewry
September 9, 2025
I can’t support this $159 million budget. It’s got to deliver what our taxpayers expect: things like smooth roads, deputies showing up in minutes, their buildings clean and in good shape, and a justice system firing on all cylinders. I’m not convinced this budget does that, knowing what needs were left on the table. Our citizens work hard, pay their taxes, and if they’re late, they’re hit with fees—or worse, lose their homes. They deserve better than what we’ve got here.
This budget process has been a hokey pokey mess—items were in, items were out, then some back in, shaking our confidence with every twist. The public’s been left in the dark. With no budget in the agenda packets before workshops, how are citizens supposed to weigh in when they can’t see where their money’s going? Transparency isn’t optional—it’s our job to serve them, not keep them guessing.
Our department heads and elected officials are the backbone of this county and they have been hung out to dry. Many didn’t see their expense sheets until they flashed on the screen in court. These are the champions serving our people every day—they deserved a seat at the table to make sure their departments can function, and their staff were taken care of.
As your Commissioner, I was committed to a budget that reflected your needs and priorities. Yet, we received updates just days before court—sometimes Friday or Monday for a Tuesday meeting. For a $159 million budget, that’s insufficient time for thorough review. I examine every line because that’s what you elected me to do—every dollar matters. This process was >disorganized, >lacked clarity, >excluded stakeholders, >omitted critical details, and >contained errors. Many departments face funding shortages, which will impact the services you rely on. At my monthly Town Hall, my citizens urged me not to approve this budget. I cannot, in good conscience, endorse a plan that falls short on accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. This process doesn’t meet my standards and I don’t have full confidence in this budget.
Looking forward, the FY27 budget process starts tomorrow, September 10th. We can’t keep saying that we will take care of your needs “next year”. Next year is never going to get here if we don’t develop a vision for this county and map out the next 3 budget cycles. With a long term plan that prioritizes needs, we rebuild trust with our citizens and give our department heads and elected officials the confidence they need to serve our citizens better. If we work together, we can reach the excellence we always seem to be striving for.
