Onslow County manager presents FY 2025–26 budget with no tax increase, proposes $3M draw from stabilization reserve

County Manager David Smitherman presented the Onslow County Board of Commissioners with a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget on June 2, 2025, that includes no new property tax rate and allocates new funding for public safety, parks, technology and capital projects while using reserves to close a budget gap.

The budget message said the proposal relies on about $8,000,000 of revenue growth and a modest rise in property values, and that the county would use $3,000,000 from the tax rate stabilization reserve to help balance the plan. Smitherman told the board, “This budget includes no new taxes,” and said growth in state and federal program money and local sales-tax receipts account for much of the increase in available funds.

Smitherman described the county as financially healthy and outlined the plan’s priorities: parks improvements and an indoor recreation facility, a community resource hub, a county “innovation lab” to optimize processes and technology, and investments to support a “high-performing” government. He said the proposed budget adds positions across departments and invests in technology and capital maintenance.

Why it matters: The budget steers funds to several long-running county priorities — school and college capital, EMS and fire service changes, and parks and tourism infrastructure — and includes proposals that will affect service delivery and long-term debt commitments.

Major allocations and proposals - No change to the county tax rate in the proposed budget. - Revenue growth: about $8,000,000 driven largely by state and federal program dollars and sales taxes. Smitherman said the county tax…