Dare County presents fiscal 2026 budget plan; approves opioid settlement spending and early college construction contract

Dare County officials presented the manager’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget and a planned FY27 projection during the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 5, and the board approved several related capital and program actions.

County staff proposed a FY26 operating budget of $242,865,850 and a planned FY27 budget of $247,340,675. The recommendation preserves existing service levels, implements a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for full‑time employees and a $0.50 hourly increase for part‑time staff, continues the county’s 3% 401(k) contribution, and does not include a general‑fund property‑tax increase; the recommended revenue neutral property‑tax rate is 26.32¢. The manager and finance staff told commissioners they balanced FY26 using a portion of the county’s available fund balance and a $1,000,000 transfer from the community development/housing fund, while warning that repeated use of fund…