Pitt County commissioners approve $420,649,900 fiscal 2025-26 budget after public hearing

Pitt County Board of Commissioners approved a $420,649,900 fiscal year 2025-26 budget at a public hearing June 3 after hearing one public comment.

The budget message presented to the board said the recommended budget "is in the total value of $420,649,900" and that it includes changes directed during recent budget workshops for Pitt County Schools, Pitt Community College, the sheriff’s office detention center, the sheriff’s salary, the Council on Aging and the farmers market. The presenter opened the public hearing before the board heard comments.

Sarah Wall, who identified herself as a resident of Winterville and representing the Pitt County Association of Educators, urged the board to “fully fund the Pitt County Schools budget request for this year.” She told commissioners that, in her view, "every dollar that you invest in public schools returns $7 into your local economy," and said schools faced a "$2,000,000 cut to our budget from other sources outside of what the county provides." Wall asked McLawhorn and Huggins by name to support the schools' request.

After the public comment period — during which meeting staff noted that only one person had signed up to speak and that speakers were allowed up to three minutes — a commissioner moved to approve the proposed budget and another commissioner seconded the motion. The board voted and the motion passed; the transcript does not record an exact roll-call tally. The board then moved to adjourn and did so.

What the budget covers beyond the items listed in the presentation was not detailed at the hearing. The presenter noted a complete budget message and a proposed budget ordinance consistent with the total shown were in front of the board. No other public speakers spoke during the hearing.

The board adopted the budget at the close of the hearing and adjourned the meeting.