(KMZA)--It was standing room only Monday evening as a large crowd of Nemaha County residents packed the courthouse courtroom in Seneca for a public hearing on the county's proposed 2027 budget.

The proposed budget calls for a tax rate of 51.32 mills, which is 11.6 mills above the county's revenue-neutral rate.

Following a hearing that lasted several hours, Commissioners Ben Glace and Jason Koch voted to allow the county to potentially exceed the revenue-neutral rate. Commissioner Joe Dallinghaus was absent.

Commissioners stressed the proposed budget is not final and the vote does not mean the county will ultimately exceed the revenue-neutral rate. The action gives commissioners more time to meet with department heads, review spending requests and work to reduce the budget.

Glace said the Road and Bridge Department had requested a $2.5 million increase over last year's budget, accounting for about 87 percent of the proposed increase.

Meanwhile, County Counselor and County Administrator Austin Parker announced that, by mutual agreement with commissioners, his county administrator position will be eliminated for 2027. Parker currently receives a $65,000 stipend for those duties.

The county must approve and submit its final 2027 budget to the state by October 1.