Ross County — The “tax budget” has been submitted for the county, half a year between the actual budgets. The estimated revenue for 2027 is $40M, and estimated expenses are $39.8M.
The commissioners indulged me with a long interview after their August 6th, 2026 session, and this is the first of four segments. Hear the commissioners in their own words in the below interview.
Specifically, commissioner Oody Lowe said the estimated revenue is $40,070,803.08, the estimated expense budget is $39,752,050.36, and the difference is $318,752.72 – all about average for the county. The commissioners had passed it that morning.
But this is the “tax budget,” required by the state to allow estimates to be used in the real budget at the end of the year – and much can change in six months.
Commissioner David Glass said they have been more hands-on this year in the tax budget, and Commissioner Jack Everson said this will jump-start the county’s individual department budget reviews for the final budget.
Everson noted that they had cut the county portion of property taxes down to cushion the de facto property tax hike by the state, because of the legislature’s inaction to prevent a re-evaluation. That is on the books this year.
Everson said that created a significant income loss for the county, but other things are working out – specifically, local growth. Everson said they are looking for a possible resurgence in sales tax revenue, versus property taxes.
He said they are looking to draw new homeowners to the county, as a good low-cost alternative to Pickaway and Franklin counties. They want Ross County to be good place to live, even if you don’t work here.
Stay tuned for my stories on the other three topics.
The Ross County Commissioners meet most Monday mornings, and live-podcast their official actions on YouTube (find Monday’s video). They also have a Facebook page.
