[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6212311,"mediaKeyId","3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9","parentId",3685688,"title","Commissioner proposes reassigning animal shelter design funds to teacher supplement; debate surfaces over economic incentives and EDC funding","audioSeconds",303,"startMs",1613000,"endMs",1916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9&start=1613&end=1916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9/thumbnail_1613000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212311/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Commissioner-proposes-reassigning-animal-shelter-design-funds-to-teacher-supplement-debate-surfaces-over-economic-incentives-and-EDC-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212311-278eed45dbb7bb6b8c1b2829ba9b79c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204772&Signature=mhu3MA~RlvjtPUlX9dMvvEoE6V5i2dtsSIw33Soue2L02qY6u5E94F21k6cLh-gtM1YO9q9sSW4fUmXiYtVOPB6-OD6769ehM0fz5k-4qOw4PcOXG79bTuogYPMWFSxqAXQSvpdnR5xfj2IHeGe7tBcwx78pOzlyXh27NbPTmhuT3KeSolzUBBJxNFolOCdL9SzwKxIABPD1z-4LZXYBr7SaE0dsY-BtspVAy9Rg0XyTnpVD~RCJzVNjBBq~sGfL0ucM6~vIBUXAbbNABEY5X~~H1EzgZZf19hznrlAmaNNQsH9EZQgrau1CoAsMyHx15d6xOKKoIBtjOyTfl91hbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cabarrus County, NC","date","2025-06-05T11:15:01Z","article","Commissioner Wortman proposed during the June 4 budget workshop to reallocate $2,000,000 originally budgeted for engineering drawings for a new animal shelter to cover two ambulances, two sheriff's vehicles and a county-funded 1% teacher supplement, and to restore $225,000 to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) budget.

\"I wanna cut the $2,000,000 engineer drawings for the animal shelter because that's $2,000,000,\" the commissioner said, outlining a plan to redirect that amount to ambulances, sheriff vehicles and a teacher supplement. He said the reallocation would require borrowing $799,830 from the Community Investment Fund to make the full set of changes.

Budget and county staff explained the $2,400,000 figure shown in revenue slides represents money set aside in a fund balance to pay economic incentive grants, including an agreement tied to Eli Lilly: the company remits taxes upfront and the county pays back an agreed share as the company meets performance conditions. A staff presenter said the county keeps 15% of those collections and pays back about 85% under the incentive agreement.

Commissioner Pittman and other commissioners strongly objected to continuing or expanding taxpayer funding of nongovernmental entities. One commissioner opposed taxpayer funding for the EDC and certain economic development grants and recommended eliminating such line items from the budget. \"My foremost objection is to any taxpayer funding for the EDC and economic development grants,\" the commissioner said during the meeting.

Emergency services officials briefed the board on vehicle needs. Cabarrus County EMS leadership said two ambulances budgeted at $585,000 bring the department to the board-assigned 5% reduction target and cautioned that ambulances that have been remounted multiple times pose safety and fatigue risks. \"With the 585,000 for the 2 ambulances and what our anticipated collection increase is next year, put us right at the 5% mark for our budget,\" an EMS chief said.

No formal budget action was taken at the workshop. Commissioners requested staff to provide more detailed line-item breakdowns, options for spreading large future payments and debt alternatives, and to return with any required contract or grant information about incentive agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cabarrus County BOC Budget Meeting 06.04.2025","oneSentenceSummary","A county commissioner proposed using $2,000,000 in animal shelter design funds to restore vehicle and ambulance purchases and to finance a 1% teacher supplement; the meeting also revisited how incentive grants and EDC funding are held in fund balance and whether taxpayer dollars should fund nongovernmental entities.","taxTitle","Cabarrus County, North Carolina","taxId",13706,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212315,"Superintendent urges county to fund school operating request and new elementary school as commissioners debate teacher supplement",1686,1010000,2696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9&start=1010&end=2696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","/articles/6212315/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Superintendent-urges-county-to-fund-school-operating-request-and-new-elementary-school-as-commissioners-debate-teacher-supplement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212315-292abcbd6478fcf6163a9fbbb6e20204/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204772&Signature=b~sUwQc6HkfwM1chJeEPlu9asKEIVam4QQSUl59BZT5qTw~Nh3vZEwe~cxRdHnmdTx6Sh6X0~Oq6Ae6wiHPoE74QTu4rzC2GAH63CEJLCD~RMQ1qOZFmJNfhmR1P81Fb3YyMWc5Tkp4~mRCJ~mvNlnVLgwlL9DLBXqAC~mpBpj2ciOjn3WibeXRzqobhEVMbtUxH5zWfsn37Cm93SHFt~tFrZzEUYUwYwo47IDL0OkEXscQMeXneXQn2f51kBH11mk-mkNYC~Gs8n1JUPTcSUz0FMsVUpVecIBEugCVpZVpOiRUlUXIwdhAHRXHa2VONDFYknLQuMK37pnNsN1T87g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County Schools Superintendent David Kopicki told commissioners at the June 4 budget workshop that the district is asking the county to fund a 12.69% increase in its local funding request for FY26 and emphasized urgent school capacity needs in the county's northwest area.

\"If you put off building that school, we will definitely cap schools,\" Kopicki said, describing overcrowding at Odell and other northwest-area schools and warning that students could be assigned outside their neighborhoods unless a new elementary school is funded.

The recommended county budget staff proposed a 10% increase for Cabarrus County Schools in FY26. Commissioners debated whether to add a separate 1% local teacher supplement for county teachers even though the school board had not requested that supplement in its submitted budget. Staff noted that providing a 1% supplement to Cabarrus County Schools also obligates matching per-ADM payments to Kannapolis City Schools and to charter schools, increasing the county cost by roughly $490,000 overall if both districts are matched as required.

County Manager Sean Newton and budget staff told commissioners they plan follow-up discussions with the school system to refine multi-year operational and capital planning. Newton said his office and school leaders had discussed that \"this year may be the last for a little while of needing double digit growth,\" and pledged to schedule deeper financial planning with school finance staff over the summer.

Board members pressed staff and school leaders on financing options for the urgent elementary school. Staff and the county's finance team said the county could use a short-term BAN (bond anticipation note) or similar borrowing vehicle to start construction more quickly, while larger GO bond packages typically go to voters. County finance staff described advantages and constraints of different vehicles, including that a BAN allows drawing interest-only financing during construction whereas a GO bond converts to long-term debt after project completion. Commissioners asked staff to engage the Local Government Commission and debt advisers to clarify capacity and timing.

Kopicki said deferred maintenance across the district totals in the hundreds of millions of dollars and that immediate capital and capacity needs include the northwest elementary school (estimated around $50,000,000) and a future high school (estimated around $130,000,000). He urged the county not to delay funding for the elementary school, saying delays would increase costs and exacerbate capacity constraints.

The workshop produced no final vote. Commissioners asked staff to return with LGC and debt-capacity analysis and with a clear timeline so the board can decide whether to pursue financing for the elementary school now and consider a GO bond or other voter-funded package later for larger projects.","Cabarrus County Schools asked the board to fund a 12.69% increase to educational partners and stressed urgent capital needs for a northwest elementary school; commissioners debated a county-funded 1% local teacher supplement and whether to finance school construction through the Local Government Commission or a voter-approved bond.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212320,"Cabarrus County managers present balanced FY26 general fund budget, five-year plan shows growing deficits",499,343000,842000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9&start=343&end=842","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685688-958b8f518840b705ee9f0cf5477cd6b9/thumbnail_343000.jpg","/articles/6212320/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Cabarrus-County-managers-present-balanced-FY26-general-fund-budget-five-year-plan-shows-growing-deficits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212320-bc6108c64229e3d48da7e456f9b9d23d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204772&Signature=jH61XEKU8Rn1rIix3ElTJCsRMLF2zwy5smfcH677kG19xULLSMhKr1yV8LHGZ0yf-gNdpsPJNdqry8JGjujVmVa4ovxsflx0dUZd2HUc6VcBL-Pnx2DXK06k8hxkMRHaT7XlIh01wrBOzP9jQgVqU2Es22M5p5zESUhc8dhFIP9wRl461Buyrw9xCV-7~qGZaB22XWjI0uYHHaSegF40OFPELVZnC8RiBCFUVn4ZY9H3q2rRR0xSUGxU6fgGcDOIWZGD-bQGVeumDUbN3jZahXNo~8qGSHBOJ990i9qbOJ8CQQGItzd55VcPwJ7D1fXzqQExbbix~y1~jmxrPt9NuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County staff presented a recommended FY26 general fund budget at the June 4 budget workshop, showing a balanced budget for next year while forecasting rising deficits in subsequent years.

The recommended budget includes $280,000,000 in property tax revenue, up from $269,000,000 in the prior year, and relies in part on one-time transfers that include $2,400,000 from internal service fund balances and $2,300,000 from an economic incentive grants fund balance, County staff said. \"Just a disclaimer, all the figures here could change, depends on what you guys decide,\" the budget presenter said as he outlined revenue and expenditure assumptions.

County finance staff said the recommended budget balances revenues and expenses for FY26 by a combination of higher property valuations adjusted in April and May, conservative revenue projections in other categories and one-time fund balance transfers. On the expenditure side, personnel costs drove much of the increase, with salary and benefit items — including a budgeted lapse and anticipated health insurance and retirement increases — accounting for the largest shares.

Staff reviewed the county's five-year plan and the assumptions behind it, including a 2 percent annual property tax base growth assumption and a 4.5 percent annual increase for education in the plan. The five-year projection shows a $10,800,000 deficit in year two, growing to about $47,000,000 in year five under the current assumptions. Staff cautioned those projections are sensitive to assumptions about education growth, personnel costs and revenue trends.

Commissioners asked how the recommended numbers compared with prior planning steps. The presenter said property valuations adjustments in April and May added about $4,900,000 to revenues and that budget conferences and leadership reviews produced department reductions and reclassifications. He said the recommended budget already includes a $1,250,000 budgeted lapse and $242,000 in net position reclassifications identified during department reviews.

Several commissioners stressed the desire to avoid raising the property tax rate and pressed staff for options to reduce recurring costs without eroding services. Staff said some monies in the recommended budget are one-time, including a $2,400,000 transfer from a self-insurance fund to the Community Investment Fund for deferred maintenance and capital one-time needs. The presenter also noted capital outlay requests, principally vehicle replacements, were substantially reduced this cycle.

The workshop did not include a formal vote on the budget; staff said adjustments made by the board between now and adoption would be shown as technical changes to the final budget ordinance. Commissioners directed staff to continue analysis and to bring detailed debt-capacity information and options back to the board ahead of the formal adoption process.","County staff presented a recommended FY26 general fund budget that is balanced for next year but projects widening shortfalls over a five-year planning horizon; commissioners discussed revenue assumptions, one-time fund transfers and next steps for debt decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioner proposes reassigning animal shelter design funds to teacher supplement; debate surfaces over economic incentives and EDC funding

Superintendent urges county to fund school operating request and new elementary school as commissioners debate teacher supplement

Cabarrus County managers present balanced FY26 general fund budget, five-year plan shows growing deficits