LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Allen County Commissioners are closing out 2025 while already looking ahead to 2026, approving a budget for next year that mirrors current spending levels.
Commissioners passed the 2026 budget during their final meeting of the year, using the same figures as 2025. County Commissioners said adjustments will be made later once ongoing negotiations with one of the unions at the Allen County Sheriff’s Office are finalized.
While budget discussions continue, commissioners are looking forward to major construction projects expected to be completed next year, including a new $17 million Allen County Administration Building. The facility will house offices for the commissioners, auditor, treasurer, veterans services, and additional county departments.
The facility will house offices for the commissioners, auditor, treasurer, veterans services, and additional county departments.
“We're looking forward to seeing it, and it's pretty exciting to see it every day, when we look out the windows here that of the process and how it's being completed and and just knowing that it's going to be there at some point in ’26,” says Brian Winegardner, Allen County Commissioner.
Work is also expected to begin soon on an approximately $3 million renovation of the first three floors of Cook Tower, which will be used by the Allen Co. Child Support Enforcement Agency.
“We've prepared the bid specs. We're going out for bid, at least the advertisement anyway, starting in first part of January. So those bid specs will be advertised, and the process will start in January, and we're looking at once the bid process is over, we're looking about six months turnaround before we can get in there,” adds Winegardner.
Both the Allen County Administration Building and the Cook Tower renovation for Child Support Enforcement are expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
