Currituck County commissioners adopted the countyiscal year 2025-26 budget and approved implementation steps for a countywide pay study at their June 11 meeting, after the board excused Commissioner McCord from deliberations on the sheriff's budget and the pay-study implementation.

The action followed several hours of discussion about implementation timing and cost. Assistant County Manager provided the board with the most recent implementation figures and described an accelerated option: “So if we were to move that factor to the final 0.025 reaching a value of 100% by the midpoint 8 years, that Fund 10 cost for fiscal year 27 would be $1,385,511. And across all funds to fully implement in the second year would be $1,924,008.47,” the assistant manager said. The managers updated proposal that the board approved increased the budget by $144,323 across all funds, with $70,123 in the general fund; the Ocean Sands water and sewer district (Fund 60) shows an $881 increase and the Tourism Development Authority (Fund 15) shows $4,727.74.

Why it matters: the pay study reclassifies positions to market-supported pay grades and includes an implementation schedule that spreads cost over multiple years. Commissioners debated whether to accelerate implementation from the manager's proposed 25-month phased schedule to a 13-month schedule; some members pressed for faster movement toward market salaries to reduce turnover, while others cautioned about relying on reserves and the risk of future tax pressure.

Board procedure and recusal: because Commissioner McCord works for the sheriff's office, the board voted to excuse him from discussion and votes on the sheriff's budget and the pay-study implementation that directly affected his compensation. A board member moved to recuse McCord; the motion passed by voice vote. The board then conducted the discussion and a mock vote in his absence and, after he rejoined the meeting, took a final vote on the full budget.

Debate highlights: Commissioner McCord had asked aloud whether the pay-study implementation could be compressed to 13 months instead of the proposed 25, saying, “If we could do it in 13 months instead of 25 months,” and arguing faster implementation would help recruitment and retention. Opposing views focused on fiscal prudence: another commissioner said the board had to avoid depleting reserves and warned of uncertain state and federal funding pressures that could require maintaining a conservative reserve level.

Other budget items folded into the adopted budget included a recurring teacher supplement (presented as a $500 supplement that will translate to roughly $648 to ensure the net $500 increase), an appropriation for a new school estimated to add nearly $2 million in recurring operating costs in future years, and a capital appropriation of $50,000 to assist Wave School with fixtures and furniture. The manager confirmed the budget ordinance presented for adoption incorporated the salary changes the board approved earlier in the meeting.

What the board decided (formal actions): the board adopted the manager-proposed budget as amended, approved the managers revised pay-study implementation (which recognizes time in position beyond eight years and slows the initial factor), and approved the sheriff's budget in the boards absence vote procedure. Each motion was carried by voice vote.

Looking ahead: commissioners said the pay-study implementation remains adjustable in future years depending on revenues, potential sales-tax measures, and unforeseen costs; several commissioners emphasized the implementation is not immutable and can be revisited.

Ending: The board completed its final approval by voice vote and recessed before moving to separate special-meeting items for the Tourism Development Authority and Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District budgets.