Washington County Commissioners approved the 2025 operating budget unanimously on Wednesday. The approval was not without questions. Commissioner Larry Maggi stated before his vote that he was concerned about current spending and how that spending may affect spending in future budgets. In a statement Maggi pointed to the demolition of the Courthouse Square building and the construction of a new Public Safety building. He still is concerned about the move to Motorola for the county’s emergency response radio system and the recent purchase of several other buildings in the City of Washington. Commissioner Nick Sherman countered the arguments by stating that the projects are currently funded with ARPA funds and the contracts have a not to exceed price number associated with them. He points to creative budgeting such as the public/private arrangement at the Crossroads Building where tenants pay the county rent for space that the county owns. Improvements to the Washington County Airport will allow bigger jets to land and monies spent there will positively affect the county coffers. The budget is a balanced $132.3 million spending plan that does not include a tax raise. The last tax raise for Washington County took effect in 2017.