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Onslow County adopts $~390 million FY2026 budget with $2 million orphan-roads loan fund, no tax increase
Summary
The Onslow County Board of Commissioners on June 16 adopted a roughly $390 million budget for fiscal 2025–26 that maintains the current tax rate, adds 52 positions, funds community paramedicine and Bear Creek 24/7 staffing, and creates a $2 million loan fund for orphan roads.
On June 16 the Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved the county's fiscal year 2025–26 budget, a roughly $390 million spending plan that carries no tax-rate increase and adds new staffing and capital investments.
County Manager David Smitherman opened a public hearing and summarized the plan as a $390 million budget with about $322 million for general government operations and nearly $8 million in revenue growth. He told the board the budget aligns with a strategic plan adopted in February and contains four board priorities: a community resource hub, an indoor recreation facility, expanded communications and engagement, and a 10‑year parks improvement schedule. “There are no new taxes proposed in this budget,” Smitherman said during the hearing.
The budget includes a package of public-safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life investments that commissioners highlighted in remarks after the hearing: a new community paramedicine program to reduce nonessential ambulance transports; 24/7 staffing for the Bear Creek Fire Station; funding to begin a comprehensive fire-service strategic plan; facility and staffing investments for EMS; and $1.5 million for North Topsail Beach access improvements.
A key element that drew public comment and speakers from the audience is a $2 million orphan-roads loan fund, included in the FY26 plan to help neighborhoods bring private roads up to state standards so they can be accepted by NCDOT. Smitherman said the board is funding that program in FY26 and the budget “reserves funds pending the outcome of the strategic planning process” for economic development implementation.
Commissioners praised the budget in turn. Commissioner Knapp called it “the best budget we've had since I've been here,” citing pay adjustments and support for volunteer fire departments. Vice Chair Bennett described the process as “systematic” and conservative, and Commissioner Buchanan and others emphasized that much of county spending is driven by mandated services such as public safety, education and health. Several commissioners noted concerns about long-term debt and future reassessment effects but voted in favor.
The board approved the plan by voice vote after a public hearing produced no speakers on the proposed budget. The budget also adopts a debt-management plan and directs staff to produce a four-year financing plan aimed at offering greater long-term tax-rate predictability.
Implementation details: the budget adds roughly 52 positions across county services, provides initial set-asides for a new Onslow Innovation Lab to drive process improvements, and continues flat funding for JoEd (Onslow County Economic Development) with reserved funds for later implementation of that office's strategic plan. The county will also begin advertising for a fire-service strategic-plan consultant.
County staff said FY26 is a reassessment year and that property values are expected to rise across the county; commissioners cautioned that future assessments could pressure revenues and spending decisions in subsequent years.
The adoption completes the formal budget process for FY2025–26; the budget takes effect July 1.
