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Cumberland County approves 2025–26 federal legislative agenda focused on infrastructure, schools and mental health
Summary
The Board unanimously approved a condensed federal legislative agenda emphasizing water/sewer infrastructure, school funding protection, youth mental health and military-family priorities after county staff reported on outreach to federal lawmakers.
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a condensed 2025–26 federal legislative agenda at its March 5 meeting. The agenda, county staff said, aligns with the board’s strategic priorities and sets top funding requests the county will present to federal lawmakers.
Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt presented the draft agenda and told the board it "aligns with each of your strategic priorities," adding that the county sought feedback after the February agenda session. The board recorded the motion to approve the agenda without further discussion; Vice Chairwoman Jones moved the motion and it was approved unanimously.
Top priorities listed in the agenda include water and sewer infrastructure; protection of federal educational funding for local schools; mental health funding for services to youth; and support for public safety and emergency services, including funding for technology and a mobile incident command center. The agenda also asks federal lawmakers to support ensuring that Interstate 685 routes through Cumberland County, modernization of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to allow permanent virtual options, and assistance for county veteran services and Older Americans Act initiatives.
County staff reported that board members and staff recently visited Washington, D.C., to brief the county’s federal delegation about these priorities. Staff said meetings included members of the county’s congressional delegation (named in the meeting as representatives "Rausser" and "Hudson") and joint meetings with U.S. Sens. Tillis and Budd. The county is awaiting guidance on FY2026 community project funding and congressional direct spending and said it intends to seek funding for projects once guidance is received.
What happens next: With the agenda approved, county staff will continue outreach to federal representatives and pursue funding opportunities consistent with the board’s priorities. Staff said they welcome delegation visits to Cumberland County to show projects and discuss needs in person.
