Moore County adopts FY2026 budget, restores Sandhills funding and approves employee pay increase

The Moore County Board of Commissioners on June 5 adopted the county's fiscal year 2026 budget, approving a package of related ordinances and personnel actions effective July 1, 2025.

County staff recommended adoption after a May 20 presentation and a required public hearing on June 3. Staff noted a change to Fund 216, the rural fire protection district fund, increasing it to $939,776 tied to an Eagle Springs Fire Department project. "The budget is balanced, and [we] would recommend the board consider adopting the budget," staff said.

A commissioner moved to adopt the fiscal year 2026 Moore County budget ordinance, including the fire protection service district and fee schedules, with the motion seconded and approved by the board.

Why it matters: The adopted budget sets the county's tax and spending priorities for the coming year and incorporates several policy changes and funding allocations that affect schools, public safety and county operations.

During debate, a commissioner highlighted how property tax revenue is being allocated under the new budget, saying, "In this budget for public schools, we are allocating 17.5' or 59.3% of all our property tax revenue. For Sandhills Community College, we're doing 2 and a half cent or 8.5% of our property tax revenue. The public school debt, including Sandhills Community College, which was voter approved, the principal is 7.4' or 25% of property tax revenue, and the interest is 2.6' or 9% of property tax revenue. If you add all that up, 30' or 101% of our property tax revenue goes to education." The remark reflects the speaker's summary of components and percentages as stated at the meeting.

The board also approved a funding-formula resolution to restore Sandhills Community College's allocation to 6% of budgeted property and sales tax proceeds. County staff said the adjustment returns the college's share to the level established at the time of the original agreement after subsequent revaluations and debt-service changes. A commissioner moved to approve the modification and authorize the chairman to sign; the motion carried.

Finance director Caroline Chong outlined revisions to capital project accounting for the county's federal pandemic-recovery funding (ARPA). She said the county originally received $10 million in a standard allowance portion of ARPA funds and that interest earned has added roughly $300,000 to the pandemic recovery capital project ordinance, with transfers proposed to the general fund and property-management vehicle purchases. The board approved a revision to the capital project ordinance for Fund 437.

On personnel matters, Assistant County Manager Dawn Gilbert asked the board to adopt several changes to the county personnel policy. The revisions remove the pandemic-era leave benefit effective June 30, clarify that the employee assistance program applies to employees age 18 and older, and update grievance-record procedures to involve the county attorney in reviews. "The pandemic leave benefit ends June 30," Gilbert said. The board adopted the revised personnel policy.

Gilbert also presented a separate motion to dissolve the Human Resources Appeals Committee effective July 1, 2025; that motion was approved.

The board adopted updates to the pay and classification plan that incorporate a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees and a handful of title and grade changes. Finally, the board approved the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources annual salary-plan reporting form for fiscal year 2025-26, a required submission for classifications subject to the State Human Resources Act (noting it covers positions in social services and the health department).

All motions described above were moved, seconded and carried by the board during the meeting. The meeting adjourned following staff closing remarks and an invitation for attendees to speak after adjournment.