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Haywood County manager previews FY26 budget, flags jail debt and personnel costs
Summary
County Manager Bridal Moorhead gave an unaudited financial update showing a $7.5 million increase to fund balance, an upheld AA+ credit rating, a FY26 debt payment bump tied to the jail expansion, and personnel and benefits costs as major budgetary pressures for the coming year.
Bridal Moorhead, Haywood County manager, presented an unaudited financial preview for fiscal 2026 at the Feb. 17 Board of Commissioners meeting, saying the county closed the prior year with roughly $7.5 million added to fund balance and that S&P had upheld the county’s AA+ credit rating despite regional storm damage.
Moorhead said the county “ended last year, with revenues, outperforming expenditures and transfers of about $7,500,000,” and warned that a full year of principal and interest on the jail expansion will increase the county’s debt service in FY26 by about $623,000. He also identified personnel costs as a major driver: “Each 1% raise per year costs us about $500,000,” Moorhead…
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