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Burke County manager unveils $116.2M recommended budget, proposes lower tax rate and schedules public hearing
Summary
The county manager presented a $116.2 million recommended fiscal 2025-26 budget that proposes a 55.5¢ tax rate, a 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and scheduled a public hearing for June 16. The board acknowledged receipt and set the hearing date.
County Manager (presenter) on Monday delivered the recommended fiscal year 2025-26 budget to the Burke County Board of Commissioners and asked the board to schedule a public hearing for June 16.
The manager described the recommended budget as “purpose driven,” focused on capitalizing prior investments and continuing a multiyear strategy on personnel, facilities and public safety. He presented a $116.2 million revenue forecast and a recommended property‑tax rate of 55.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. The manager told the board the recommendation aims to reduce pressure on taxpayers while funding priorities such as public safety, education and capital projects.
Key items in the recommended budget included a proposed 2.25% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees, continued implementation of a compensation plan, and targeted capital spending. The manager estimated EMS billing collections at about $6.1 million next year, highlighted pay and benefits investments and cited a proposed 6% increase in employer health‑insurance costs.
He proposed several user‑fee adjustments: an increase in the municipal household-waste fee from $88 to $92 (passed on from the county’s vendor), a proposed flat monthly water/sewer fee increase from $25 to $30, and a municipal sewer fee moving from $5 to $5.50 in order to stabilize rates and address interjurisdictional inflows. Building-permit and environmental-health fees were proposed to rise modestly.
After the presentation commissioners voted 5-0 to acknowledge receipt of the manager’s recommended budget and to schedule a public hearing on Monday, June 16, at 6 p.m.
Why it matters: The manager’s recommended budget sets policy priorities and a tax-rate proposal that will be debated at public hearing and shaped before final adoption. The proposal emphasizes continued investment in employee pay and retention, public safety capital and strategic planning for housing and infrastructure.
