Mitchell County commissioners review $27.9 million proposed budget, debate one‑year pre‑K funding options

Mitchell County commissioners on Tuesday reviewed a proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget that county finance staff said totals $27.9 million and relies on a $2.1 million appropriation from the county’s fund balance to balance the plan.

“‘This is for 2526 proposed budget, and this is a total of $27,900,000 with the fund balance appropriation to balance this budget of 2,100,000,’” a county staff member told the board during the presentation.

The presentation laid out the budget’s main assumptions and pressures. The proposal holds the current property tax rate at 56¢ per $100 of assessed value; staff said one cent of that rate would generate about $227,150. The county is projecting a 97% tax collection rate for 2025–26. The budget includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees and recognizes a recent increase in state retirement contribution rates (14.46% for regular employees and 16.08% for law enforcement, as stated during the meeting). The presenter also flagged increasing operational costs for new and expanded facilities, including the law enforcement center and Butler School, and an anticipated full year of operating costs for the county’s new facilities.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the county remains in a fragile cash position because of ongoing…