Walker County Commission delays budget vote, extends data center moratorium
The Walker County Commission extended its data center moratorium for six months, pausing all data center applications in unincorporated areas until new zoning regulations are established. The commission also delayed a budget vote following public opposition to proposed property tax or public safety fee increases.
The Walker County Commission recently made two significant decisions. First, they opted to delay a vote on the fiscal year 2027 budget. This decision followed public backlash against proposals to raise property taxes or public safety fees, which aimed to address a $2 million budget shortfall and fund nine new positions in the county's fire department. The timeline for when the budget will be brought back for a vote remains unclear.
Concurrently, the commission approved an extension of its data center moratorium for an additional six months. This measure effectively pauses all applications for data centers within the unincorporated areas of Walker County. The purpose of this extension is to allow the county sufficient time to establish comprehensive zoning regulations specifically for data center developments.