Burke County adopts $116.2 million FY2025-26 budget; approves school agreement and nonprofit funding

The Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 16 adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget ordinance (No. 2025-07), approving a $116,200,000 general-fund spending plan that trims the proposed property tax rate to 55.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and funds education, public safety and other priorities.

County Manager Brian Eppley told the board the budget is “balanced on 55 and a half cents” and described the plan as built around a multiyear strategic effort to “react, rebuild, rethink” county services. Eppley said the budget allocates about $20.5 million to Burke County Public Schools and proposes a 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment across county payroll.

Why it matters: the ordinance steadies the county’s capital and operating plans amid continuing inflationary pressures and revenue uncertainty. Eppley said the county manufactured about $8.5 million of budget flexibility over three years and is targeting economic development, service improvements and modest tax relief.

Key details: the adopted general fund totals $116.2 million; property tax is about 52.9% of total revenue; projected property value growth used in the budget is roughly 1.96%; the budget contemplates…