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Harnett County releases recommended 2025-26 budget, asks commissioners for guidance on school funding and nonprofit requests
Summary
County staff presented a recommended 2025-26 budget that raises proposed school funding, increases fund-balance allocation and asks the Board of Commissioners for direction on nonprofit requests and several fee changes.
County finance staff on Tuesday asked the Harnett County Board of Commissioners for guidance to finalize the recommended 2025-26 budget, highlighting a large increase in proposed school funding and a larger fund-balance drawdown.
The presentation by Lisa McFadden said staff has increased the recommended continuation-and-expansion allocation for Harnett County Schools and set aside contingency to cover the district's lost low-wealth funding. "The $45,716,364 was the total amount requested by Harnett County Schools," McFadden said, and staff noted an "increase per pupil funding" figure of $1,810.40, about $395 more per student than last year.
McFadden told commissioners that changes made since last week include a roughly $12 million increase in the fund-balance allocation to cover school funding and other adjustments; general-fund operating expenditures rose by about $8.5 million, bringing the proposed general-fund operating budget to $195,506,342. The recommended fund-balance appropriation is now just over $20 million, and estimated fund balance would fall to about 17 percent under the current plan.
Why it matters: County staff said the adjustments are intended to cover schools and several other recurring and one-time needs while preserving policy targets for reserves. Commissioners must decide whether to include additional nonprofit allocations and how to finalize fee changes and service allocations before next week's scheduled budget ordinance vote.
During the work session staff sought direction on three items: whether to fund a recent nonprofit request (Johnston Lee Harnett Community Action Group sought $25,000-$50,000); whether to approve several fee additions for Harnett Regional Water and Harnett Regional Jetport; and how to address EMS reimbursement shortfalls raised by some volunteer departments.
Board discussion touched repeatedly on the nonprofit policy and bylaws. One commissioner said the board should adopt consistent bylaws governing county grants to nonprofits before approving discretionary awards. County staff responded that bylaws were drafted previously by county attorneys and the School of Government and that updated bylaws could be presented for the board's consideration prior to allocating funds.
On EMS, McFadden said staff had recommended a 10 percent increase to EMS fee reimbursements overall; she acknowledged some departments requested larger increases and that the recommendation leaves shortfalls for some providers. "We're trying to be fair across the board," she said, and staff committed to providing further data for the board's review.
The board did not take a final vote on the budget at the work session; McFadden said staff will prepare the budget ordinance for a vote at next week's meeting. Commissioners also asked staff to return next week with the nonprofit bylaws and more analysis on EMS funding and the proposed fee changes for water and the jetport.
The County Manager noted several administrative items unrelated to the budget, including participation in advocacy with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and a public MedAssist medication distribution event on June 20.
