Caswell commissioners set public hearing on FY2025–26 budget, propose 3¢ property tax increase as residents press for more school funding
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Summary
At a May public hearing, county staff outlined a FY2025–26 draft budget that would raise property taxes 3¢ to cover a revenue shortfall; dozens of residents and school staff urged the board to increase school funding and local teacher supplements and described urgent facility and staffing needs.
Caswell County commissioners opened a public hearing on the proposed FY2025–26 budget and a proposed 3¢ property tax increase after county staff said a projected $643,000 revenue shortfall must be covered by cuts or new revenue.
Budget presenter Renee Paschal, joined by County Manager Tony Whitaker, told the board the county faces lower revenues — including a $300,000 reduction in inmate housing revenue and a roughly $724,000 reduction in health-department fund balance — while expenses rose modestly overall. Paschal said the 3¢ property tax increase would generate about $640,000 and that projected higher sales tax receipts could add roughly $300,000; even with the increase, she said Caswell’s tax rate would remain below comparable counties.
The hearing drew more than a dozen residents and current school employees who urged the commissioners to increase funding for Caswell County Schools. Teachers, school nurses, principals and parents described chronic facility problems, staffing shortages and low pay that they said drive staff to nearby districts.
“Most of the new talent that comes uses our system as a stepping stone for experience, then moves on to better paying districts,” school nurse Amy Carter said, adding that staff can face large pay reductions compared with nearby systems. Several speakers asked the board to fund a local salary supplement to help retain and attract educators and to address capital needs such as gymnasiums, HVAC and roofing repairs. Lance Stokes, speaking for the schools, called for reconsideration of a $1.1 million capital request and a local supplement for staff.
Paschal gave line-item context: salary costs rose by about $788,000 in the draft, with roughly $406,000 attributable to eliminating a vacancy allowance; benefits rose about $264,000 (including a health-insurance increase); and debt service rose by about $331,000 for ambulance remounts, a paging-system upgrade and vehicle leases. She said the budget includes a 1.5% cost-of-living increase and funding for a pay and classification study.
Commissioners and staff noted the schools’ formal budget arrived after the county’s initial deadline (Paschal said the schools’ submission arrived May 9, after the county’s May 5 target), and the recommended county budget currently recommends the same funding as FY2024–25; Paschal said the school board requested a roughly $2.2 million increase in county appropriation against a roughly $36 million general-fund budget. County staff said they will honor a transfer to the school capital reserve even though it was not included in the earlier budget.
The board set a budget work session for next Wednesday to review details and scheduled additional sessions; no final adoption occurred at the meeting. Commissioner Rose moved to convene the public hearing (seconded by Commissioner Totten); the motion passed and the hearing was opened for public comment.
Why it matters: the draft budget ties decisions on employee pay, public safety staffing and school facilities to a small property-tax increase and to one-time and recurring revenue changes. Staff and public testimony highlighted immediate health and safety concerns in school buildings and the risk of losing teachers to neighboring districts.
The board will continue budget deliberations at an upcoming work session before any adoption vote.
