Wilson County manager presents balanced $137.5 million FY2025–26 budget with no tax increase

County Manager Ron Hunt presented the Wilson County Board of Commissioners with a recommended fiscal year 2025–26 budget totaling $137,474,982 and said the proposal includes no tax-rate increase.

"It is my honor and privilege to submit the fiscal year 25 26 recommended budget," Hunt told the board, saying the proposed plan complies with the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act and is subject to public hearing and revision.

Hunt framed the budget around five board-endorsed values: sound financial management, an innovative county workforce, community partnerships, quality of life and superior education and workforce development. The manager said continued population and development growth is driving capital needs and that staff began developing both short- and long-term capital plans last year.

The recommended budget would allocate $26.2 million in current expense for Wilson County Schools (a 3.5% increase over the prior fiscal year) and $1.0 million for the county's capital outlay for schools, with an additional $3.0 million reserved for potential capital projects. Wilson County Community College is recommended for $1.0 million in capital and about $2.9 million in current expense.

Hunt described recent capital work and near-term items the county is funding or planning to finance: completion of a senior center and wellness pavilion, phases 1 and 2 of the county government center remodel, a new EMS north-central station nearing completion, land purchased for an East EMS station, renovation of the Blalock Building for GIS and technology staff, and bids received on a new sheriff's training center that will return to the board in June. He said the county has earmarked $3.2 million for capital in recent budgets and the recommended budget adds $1.0 million of additional capital.

On compensation, the recommended budget budgets a total 5.0% salary adjustment (2.15% market adjustment plus a 2.85% step component) and holds health-insurance premium growth at 5%. Hunt said the pay adjustments aim to keep salaries competitive and retain staff.

Public safety funding in the manager's proposal includes replacement vehicle schedules and equipment: two ambulances at $798,180 and three sheriff's office replacement vehicles at $163,395. The recommended operating budget keeps human services (29%), public safety (26%), and education (23%) as the county's largest expenditure categories.

The presentation called attention to longer-term capital priorities, starting with the county's 101-year-old courthouse and justice center in downtown Wilson. Hunt said the county is working with Oakley Collier Architects and Davenport & Associates on planning and financing options for large capital needs and has hired its first county engineer to support the capital program.

Hunt said the recommended property tax rate supporting the proposal is 59.5 cents per $100 valuation, unchanged from the current year. He noted the recommended budget represents a 1.4% increase over the current budget and described the county's conservative revenue assumptions.

Hunt set a public hearing on the proposed budget for May 29 at 7 p.m. in the Wilson County Government Center and said the manager's recommended budget is open to the board's review and change during the May budget meeting schedule.

Several commissioners asked clarifying questions during and after the presentation about capital timing, funding sources (including use of fund balance and potential debt), and specific line items such as ambulance-fee collections, jail reimbursement timing and health-department transfers. Finance staff and the county manager said staff would provide additional detail during the series of budget-review meetings scheduled in May.

The manager's presentation concluded without a formal vote; the board received the proposed budget and scheduled follow-up budget meetings and the May 29 public hearing.