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Person County adopts FY26 budget; property tax set at $0.63, fire/rescue district at $0.04
Summary
The Board of Commissioners adopted a $109.8 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget, setting the county property tax rate at 63 cents and the fire and rescue tax district at 4 cents; the budget includes a 2.5% merit budgeting assumption and added language for Manager-level Brooks Act exemptions.
The Person County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget, setting the county property tax rate at $0.63 per $100 of assessed value and a fire and rescue tax district rate of $0.04. The adopted budget totals $109,823,546 and reflects a net decrease of $178,009.16 from the manager’s recommended budget.
County budget staff presented the ordinance and a spreadsheet of amendments made during the June 6 budget work session; Tracy Clayton, the county’s chief financial officer, and county staff answered commissioners’ questions about merit and cost-of-living increase assumptions.
Key details: - FY26 budget total: $109,823,546 (a decrease of $178,009.16 from the manager’s recommended budget). - Property tax rate set at $0.63; fire/rescue tax district at $0.04. - The budget assumes a 2.5% average merit pool (manager noted 2% for meets expectations and 3% for exceeds, and the county budgets at 2.5%). - The county manager added ordinance language authorizing written manager-level Mini-Brooks Act exemptions for design services projects during the fiscal year, so specified design exemptions can be approved administratively and documented without coming to the board.
Commissioner discussion focused on the balance between maintaining services and competitive employee pay, concerns about future personnel costs (COLA and employer retirement contributions), and strategies for long-term revenue growth through economic development. One commissioner urged planning for future salary and retirement cost growth and for investing in industrial land to broaden the tax base.
The board moved to adopt the ordinance. The motion passed with the board voting in favor; the meeting minutes recorded the motion and an oral "aye" vote, with no roll-call tally provided in the transcript.
Ending: County staff said they will continue to provide information about personnel cost projections and retirement employer contributions as those figures become available in the spring and asked commissioners to remain engaged in long-term economic development planning.
