The Montgomery County Commission approved a $183.1 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027 on Tuesday, passing the spending plan in a 3-2 vote that exposed deep divisions over public funding for Montgomery Whitewater, according to reports by WAKA Action 8 News.
Budget Breakdown and the Montgomery Whitewater Allocation
According to WAKA Action 8 News, the newly approved $183 million budget represents a $26.5 million, or 17%, increase over the fiscal year 2026 spending plan. The fiscal year begins on October 1. Within the larger spending package, the county earmarked $500,000 in operating expenses for Montgomery Whitewater, a 120-acre outdoor recreation facility that opened in July 2023.
Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton defended the ongoing allocation, noting that the park is a vital component of the Maxwell Gateway Project. According to Singleton, new economic development announcements tied to that area of Montgomery are expected soon. “We’ve always included Montgomery Whitewater as a line item in our budget since the park has opened, half a million in operating expenses as they continue to grow,” Singleton told WAKA Action 8 News. “Like any new business, it takes 3, 4 or 5 years to get where you’re self-sufficient, so we continue to help them along with the City of Montgomery.”
Commissioner Concerns Over Audits and Financial Transparency
The budget’s narrow 3-2 passage followed sharp criticism from commissioners regarding the facility’s financial management and lack of audited reports. District 4 Commissioner Isaiah Sankey, who voted against the budget alongside Commissioner Dan Harris, pointed to previous financial interventions by the county. According to Sankey, officials have tapped into American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and rental tax funds originally meant to pay back bond issues to cover day-to-day operational expenses at the park.
“We’ve extended a $7.5 million credit line to Whitewater without any financial statements, any opportunity to assess their ability to repay the money,” Sankey said, as reported by WAKA Action 8 News. Sankey added that he has repeatedly requested audited financial statements for the 2023 and 2024 tax years but has not yet received them.
District 3 Commissioner Justin Castanza voted in favor of the budget, arguing that the funding allows the facility time to alter its business model rather than guarantee its survival in its current form. “We’re not saying bypassing the budget today that Montgomery Whitewater will exist in the future in its current state,” Castanza told WAKA Action 8 News. “What we are saying is that we are committed to Montgomery still having an opportunity to have not just public entertainment, but community engagement.”
Facility Closure and Broader County Investments
The budget vote coincided with an announcement from Montgomery Whitewater on Saturday confirming that the facility had closed for the season. The closure affects all activities at the 120-acre park, including whitewater rafting, trails, ropes courses, zip lines, and its on-site restaurant. According to facility board statements, the site is transitioning to offseason operations and maintenance while an audit is conducted, with completion expected by the end of the year.
Aside from the funding debate surrounding the whitewater park, the approved fiscal year 2027 budget includes several other regional capital improvement projects. According to WAKA Action 8 News, the spending plan funds the construction of a new community center inside Montgomery’s city limits, a probate office located in east Montgomery, and an additional $500,000 allocation for the Montgomery Regional Airport.
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