The 2026 county budget runs to 92 pages. Most people will never read it. That is not a failure of the people — that is a failure of how budgets are written.
Here is the short version.
## Where the money comes from
About 68% comes from the central government allocation. 22% comes from local taxes — market fees, business licenses, property assessments. The remaining 10% is grants and donor funding, most of it earmarked for specific projects.
## Where the money goes
The four largest lines:
– **Salaries** — 41% of the budget. Teachers, health workers, county staff.
– **Infrastructure** — 19%. Roads, bridges, water points.
– **Education** — 14%. Includes the school feeding program.
– **Health** — 11%. Includes outreach clinics in the districts.
The remaining 15% covers everything else: administration, security, agriculture support, the small reserve for emergencies.
## What changed this year
The infrastructure line is up 4 percentage points from last year. The salaries line is up 2 points. The reserve is down — and that is the line we are watching most closely.
