Harnett County presents FY 2025–26 recommended budget; no tax‑rate increase proposed, contingency for school funding flagged

Harnett County staff presented the recommended fiscal year 2025–26 budgets and proposed expansions to the Board of Commissioners on May 13, with the general‑fund recommendation totaling $183,457,942, a proposed Harnett Regional Water budget of $50,595,000 and a solid‑waste budget of $8,972,554. The recommended package does not include a county property‑tax rate increase.

Why it matters: The county recommended budget funds public safety, human services and education as the largest cost centers; staff said the recommendation sustains current service levels, proposes limited expansions and builds contingencies to accommodate potential state decisions on school funding.

Top‑line budget items - General fund: $183,457,942 recommended. To balance revenues and expenditures, staff proposed appropriating $8,042,036 of fund balance — about $4.7 million less than the prior year’s use of fund balance. Revenues were summarized as ad valorem taxes, sales tax and service charges as the top sources. - No property‑tax increase: The recommended budget does not propose a change to the tax rate; staff said a one‑penny (0.01) increase would generate approximately $1.5 million. Earlier staff analysis cited a quarter‑cent estimate of approximately $3.9 million (county staff offered to provide an updated per‑increment figure if the board desired).

Personnel and compensation - Personnel proposals: Staff recommended a 3% cost‑of‑living increase, continuation of a 1.5% merit program, raising the county employer 401(k) match from 2% to 3% for non‑sworn employees (sworn officers remain at 5%), and recommended 14 new general‑fund full‑time positions plus 22 reclassifications across multiple departments (library, sheriff, development services, health, social services, etc.). Harnett Regional Water and solid waste each had recommended position additions as well.

Major expansions and requests cited - Education: Staff recommended an additional $3 million for Harnett County Schools with continued maintenance and capital allocations (1.4 million maintenance; $1 million capital). County staff noted that if the General Assembly does not provide anticipated low‑wealth supplemental funding for schools, the county may need to use contingency or reserves to meet school requests. - Facilities, library, parks, public safety: The recommended budget included specific expansion and capital requests such as early‑literacy library funding, facilities vehicles, and capital projects at Central Carolina Community College and local parks. - Harnett Regional Water: The department’s recommended $50.6 million budget included equipment and vehicle replacements and lift‑station generator purchases; the proposed water CIP is included in the budget package.

Board timeline and next steps County staff scheduled a public hearing on the recommended budget for May 20 at 6 p.m., with further work sessions as needed and final budget adoption scheduled for June 16. Staff said contingency amounts will be revisited in June depending on state school‑funding actions and other revenue information.

Ending County leaders emphasized continuing conversations about school funding and the possibility of using fund balance or considering a tax‑rate adjustment if state funds do not materialize. The board did not take a final vote on the budget at the May 13 meeting; public hearings and subsequent meetings were scheduled.