BUDGET APPROVED — Hancock County commissioners met Thursday, approving the county's budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The approximately $10.5 million general fund budget is $1.3 million lower than that of the current fiscal year. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — Hancock County’s general fund budget will see a reduction of approximately $1.3 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to estimates approved by county commissioners Thursday afternoon.

Commissioners approved a budget which includes $10,531,522 in estimated general fund revenues, with an additional $50,000 anticipated in coal severance funds.

This compares to a general fund budget of $11,827,035 for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

“The discussions have been very difficult,” said Commission President Eron Chek. “Nobody can remember the last time cuts were made.”

Under the proposed budget, beginning July 1, there are planned expenditures of $5,111,974 for general government, which includes $627,202 for the commission office, $491,170 for the county clerk’s office, $312,023 for circuit clerk, $367,599 for the sheriff’s office in its role as treasurer, $546,301 for the prosecuting attorney, $513,218 for the county assessor, $41,586 for Statewide Computer Network, $80,000 for elections under the county clerk’s office and $213,770 for elections under the circuit clerk’s office, $43,600 for magistrate court, $1,627,695 for courthouse expenses, $111,765 toward data processing, $36,370 toward a regional development authority, $39,675 for economic development and $60,000 toward property rehabilitation.

There is a total of $5,029,223 for the sheriff’s department, with $2,686,502 set for law enforcement, $3,000 for service of process, $584,000 for regional jail costs, $30,000 toward home confinement costs, $368,974 for police special duty, $291,500 for emergency services, $274,000 for fire departments, $337,780 for the dog warden/humane society, $314,424 for public safety grants and $139,043 for courthouse security.

While Chek said plans for reductions in the sheriff’s department remain, they will be divided across the next two fiscal years, with half for the upcoming year and the other half for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.

Chek noted all volunteer fire departments in Hancock County will continue to receive $44,000 per year, with funding for the New Cumberland and Chester departments derived from the county’s special projects funds, and all others from the general revenue fund.

There is $32,600 dedicated for health and sanitation, including $12,000 for the county health department, $2,000 for mental health services, $3,600 for storm sewer projects, and $15,000 for the solid waste authority.

In culture and recreation, $75,000 has been designated for parks and recreation, with $118,225 for the visitor’s bureau, for a total of $193,225.

Under social services, $72,500 has been established for senior citizen services, with $92,000 toward cemetery maintenance.

No funding has been set aside for capital projects in the budget.

“All departments are sharing in the cuts,” Chek said.