Sampson County manager proposes targeted 6¢ tax increase to shore up schools, ambulances and county buildings

Interim County Manager presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners that combines deep departmental reductions, health‑insurance renegotiation and a targeted 6‑cent property tax increase to fund education, public safety and building capital.

The manager told the board the county used $11.8 million of fund balance in FY2025 to balance recurring costs and recommended reducing that use to about $1.3 million for FY2026. He proposed a 6‑cent increase in the county tax rate (from 62.5¢ to 68.5¢ per $100 of assessed value) with the revenue dedicated to specific needs rather than general spending.

Why it matters: The manager framed the proposal as a corrective move after a large one‑time drawdown of savings last year. He said the targeted tax increase would preserve core services — primarily public education and public safety — while shrinking reliance on savings and continuing investments in county building maintenance and IT security.

Key eleme…