The Cumberland County Finance Committee on Tuesday approved the draft 2025-26 fiscal budget after a staff presentation and discussion about risks from unresolved state and federal funding.

Carrie Faganbinder, finance staff, asked the committee to approve the 2025-26 budget and presented the key figures: "Total revenue is 79,600,000.0, and total expense is 80,200,000.0. Of that revenue, 80% is grants, and the other 20% is made up of subsidy and other revenues." The committee then moved and seconded the budget and approved it when members said "aye."

Committee members used the discussion to highlight the county's dependence on outside funding and the contingency plans in place. Commissioner Meador said the county maintains a reserve to cover shortfalls: "this is 1 of the reasons why we keep a hundred days minimum in the general fund to operate in case of this kind of a scenario." Meador and others noted that if the state or federal governments delay or reduce payments, the county would carry program costs until funds arrive and that reimbursements can arrive retroactively, sometimes taking months.

Committee members asked staff to notify the board promptly if they receive notice of funding reductions or delays. One member said such notices often arrive through media reports: "it would not be a surprise to me to just get noticed via the media." Committee discussion also included the practical limits of how long the county can carry mandated services without incoming funds.

Earlier in the meeting the committee approved the minutes from its May 21 meeting by motion and voice vote. With no public commenters appearing online, the committee proceeded to the budget item and then adjourned.

The approved draft budget as presented assumes flat state and federal funding compared with prior years and relies heavily on grant revenue; committee members emphasized monitoring and communicating any changes in external funding as they occur.