New Lincoln County budget could be lower than 2025's

But Auditor Sheri Lund cautions that, 'We’re not anywhere close to where we'll end up'

The Lincoln County Courthouse, in Canton, serves as the hub of government for the county.

Lincoln County commissioners opened the 2026 budget season Tuesday with a provisional general-fund plan of $29.6 million, trimming roughly $500,000 from this year’s amended total even as they weigh new hires and vehicle purchases.

“Budgets are not a perfect science,” Auditor Sheri Lund told the board. “The county needs two things to operate. First and foremost, they need the cash, and they must have the available budget when they're spending.”