County manager proposes FY26 budget that holds tax rate, backs higher school funding

Cabarrus County Manager Sean Newton presented the county’s fiscal year 2026 recommended budget at the board’s May 19 meeting, proposing a general fund total of $399 million and $548 million across all funds while holding the property tax rate at 57.6¢ per $100 of assessed value.

“This budget is built on discipline, data, and dedication to the people of Cabarrus County,” Newton told the commissioners as he summarized the recommended plan, which staff said closed a projected near-$6 million budget gap through spending reductions and more-conservative budgeting assumptions.

Key elements in the recommended budget include: a permanent tax rate unchanged from FY25 at 57.6¢; a recommended 10% increase in operating support to the county’s school systems (after staff adjustments from requests of 12.69% for Cabarrus County Schools and 9.75% for Kannapolis City Schools); $29,050,000 in school capital investments including deferred maintenance, technology and design funding for additions and renovations; and $6,150,000 in county capital projects such as an animal shelter design and landfill expansion work. Newton’s message notes staff sought to align proposed spending with historical actuals and reduced noncritical operating items to close the deficit.

Newton also outlined workforce assumptions: the FY26 budget holds staffing largely level (with 24 job reclassifications), maintains employee benefits and funds traditional cost-of-living and merit increases for eligible staff.

The budget presentation set a timeline: staff plans to bring a capital projects ordinance that combines county and education projects for adoption at the board’s June 16 meeting. Newton asked commissioners to review the budget and return any changes prior to that adoption date.

At the meeting Commissioner Kenny Wortman read department-level reductions that staff used to preserve the tax rate, including cuts to sheriff’s office operations and deferred vehicle purchases, approximately $585,000 from EMS operating and the elimination of two requested ambulances, and multiple deferred facility and maintenance items across county departments. Wortman summarized, “All those cuts were just so that we could keep the tax rate flat.”

Commissioners discussed teacher supplements, noting that a 1% supplement increase for teachers would cost about $2.3 million and is not currently included in the recommended budget. Commissioners signaled they will continue budget negotiations between the May 19 presentation and the June 16 adoption meeting.

No formal adoption occurred on May 19; the board will consider the recommended budget and associated capital ordinance at future meetings.