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Sampson County commissioners give staff direction on 2026-27 budget, set tax-rate target and specific appropriations
Summary
The board directed staff to prepare a budget ordinance for a proposed tax rate of 68.5' and approved a set of one-year appropriations and budget instructions including funding for beaver management, libraries, the history museum and a one-time employee bonus; staff will return with a complete ordinance and fee schedule Friday.
The Sampson County Board of Commissioners on June 3 provided detailed direction to county staff on the 2026-27 budget and adopted draft budget instructions intended to guide the incoming county manager.
Staff presented a one-page summary that combined public feedback and commissioners' requests and laid out several proposed adjustments to the current budget. The board directed Budget Officer Melissa Burton to prepare a formal budget ordinance, fee schedule and tax rates to return for consideration at a special Friday meeting; commissioners voted "so moved" and the chair announced the motion carried.
Key items staff and commissioners highlighted for the ordinance included: - A proposed county property tax rate of 68.5 cents per $100 of assessed value (as presented to the board). - An increase to the audit budget of $15,300 to cover the FY25 audit first-year cost (see separate item awarding the audit contract). - A one-time, prorated $500 bonus to full-time equivalent employees for July; staff corrected an earlier estimate and reported the cost at roughly $306,000 (estimate provided by staff). - Restoring the Beaver Management Program funding to a full $100,000 for the year; staff said full funding would support a full-time trapper and that current funding leaves demand unmet. - Funding two county-funded days per week for the Garland Library at an estimated $37,125, with remaining library days to be funded by local or private sources. - An additional $40,000 for the Sampson County History Museum to restore it to last year's funding level of $60,000, per staff presentation. - A $5,000 allocation in Human Resources for small tokens of recognition for employees who save lives or retire (plaques or similar items), as described by staff.
Commissioners discussed employee compensation policy for the coming year. The draft resolution included guidance that a 3% cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) should be the goal for permanent full-time employees in 2026-27, but commissioners asked staff to return Friday with example scenarios (for example, 1%, 2% or 3% and combinations of percentage increases plus flat stipends) so the board can select an approach that addresses pay compression and frontline workers.
During discussion commissioners emphasized fiscal restraint and a desire to reduce fund-balance reliance; one commissioner said they will not support a budget exceeding $85 million and praised staff for presenting a proposed budget just above $82 million that met several board goals. Staff repeatedly said the draft directions are contingent on next year's revenue performance and that some items may be adjusted depending on actual receipts or unexpected expenditures.
The board also adopted a separate draft resolution establishing a biannual budgeting instruction set (labeled for fiscal 26-27 in staff materials). The resolution as read includes several directives to the manager such as no general county property tax increase beyond the presented rate (item 1), consideration of department fee increases on a case-by-case basis, compliance with state and federal mandates, a cap on combined general-fund department funding at the current year's level, and instructions related to school construction local match funding if required.
The board set a follow-up to consider a completed budget ordinance, fee schedule and tax rates at 10 a.m. Friday; staff said the documents would be ready.
