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 QRV, placed on the county's east end when launched Feb. 1, 2023, had responded to about 1,360 incidents in that service area as of May 22, 2025, and credited the unit with helping recruit paramedics who had returned to work in the county.

Several commissioners spoke before the vote. Commissioner Bullard moved to adopt the budget as presented, including QRV funding through Jan. 19, 2026, and the telecommunicator salary adjustments; Commissioner Scott Floyd seconded the motion. After roll-call, the motion passed. During debate some commissioners expressed concern that funding QRVs only through mid-January relies on revenue projections and said they preferred a full-year commitment if possible; others said the six-month extension preserved the program while staff continue to monitor revenues.

County finance staff described the county's cash and investment position as stronger than several years ago (they reported cash and investments rising from $46 million in 2021 to about $53 million at the latest report) but cautioned that unassigned fund balance is calculated by audit formula and may not rise in proportion to cash on hand. Staff told the board they planned an end-of-year budget amendment to address known and anticipated year-end variances and to avoid budget violations.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Adopt FY 2025–26 budget ordinance as presented, fund QRV program through Jan. 19, 2026, and increase telecommunicator base pay to $44,116. Mover: Commissioner Bullard. Seconder: Commissioner Scott Floyd. Outcome: approved. (Board discussion recorded concerns about relying on midyear revenue projections; the QRV funding was described as preserved through Jan. 19 with a staff report to follow.) - Motion: Approve FY 2025–26 fee schedule by separate vote (per Local Government Commission request). Outcome: approved. - Motion: Adopt proclamation declaring June 2025 Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Authorize county attorney review and county manager approval for the 911/internet-connectivity contract (subject to third-party cost not exceeding prior estimates). Outcome: approved; staff to return to board if final cost exceeds prior quote. - Motion: Approve amended contract with Columbus Regional Healthcare System to include a business associate agreement. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve second reading of amended depreciation (fixed-asset) schedule. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve first reading of updated purchase order policy (blanket PO and PO thresholds); second reading scheduled for next meeting. Outcome: approved (first reading). - Motion: Approve April 2025 financial report and a set of year-end budget amendments and project ordinances (listed in the meeting packet). Outcome: approved.

Why it matters: The budget decision preserves the QRV emergency unit through mid-January and raises starting pay for 911 telecommunicators to improve retention and recruitment for the county's emergency communications center. To balance those and other priorities without raising property taxes, the county increased the number of positions to be frozen and plans an end-of-year review of revenues and spending. The measures will affect county operations, public-safety staffing and service levels, and the timing of possible additional funding decisions in January 2026.

What commissioners and speakers said "We got a deficit now in the standard of care in this county... We can make our county safer for the QRV," said Dr. Chambers, the county's medical director, urging continued funding for the program.

Shannon Strickland, rescue chief, said the QRV has produced about 1,360 responses in its service area since Feb. 1, 2023, and that retaining QRV staff helps bring paramedics back to work in the county.

County finance staff explained the audit-driven mechanics of fund balance and said lowering expenditures is the statutory way to increase unassigned fund balance.

Next steps: County staff will provide a finance report to the board at its Jan. 19, 2026, meeting on year-to-date tax collections and will recommend whether to continue QRV funding beyond Jan. 19. Staff also will present the separate fee-schedule implementation items requested by the Local Government Commission and prepared year-end budget amendments to avoid budget violations.

Ending note: Commissioners and speakers repeatedly emphasized the budget's trade-offs: preserving public-safety services now while postponing or freezing positions to meet statutory balanced-budget requirements without a tax increase.