Columbus County adopts FY 2025–26 budget; funds Quick Response Vehicles through Jan. 19 and raises 911 pay

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners on May 19 adopted the county's FY 2025–26 budget, approving temporary funding for the Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) emergency-response program through Jan. 19, 2026, and a pay increase for 911 telecommunicators. The board adopted the budget during its regular meeting after a public hearing and discussion with staff and emergency-service leaders.

The adopted budget includes funding of $443,835 to continue QRV operations through Jan. 19, 2026, and raises the telecommunicators' starting base pay to $44,116. County staff told the board the budget was presented in accordance with state statute and the Local Government Commission had reviewed it. The county manager noted the proposed budget was balanced with no tax increase and that it reflected a roughly $5 million reduction from the current year across all funds.

The county manager and finance staff told commissioners the FY 2026 proposal required additional position freezes to remain balanced after the pay increase and QRV funding. The number of positions recommended to be frozen rose from 11 to 24; county staff said that the increased freeze would affect eight current employees and would reduce personnel costs by $747,168.

Public speakers urged the board to keep the QRV program. Columbus County's medical director, identified in the meeting as Dr. Chambers, described the QRV as life-saving and said the program improved the county's standard of care. Rescue Chief Shannon Strickland told the board the…