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Southampton County adopts FY2026 budget with no tax‑rate increase; $4.2M in added spending primarily one‑time
Summary
The board adopted the FY2026 budget that staff said increases spending by roughly $4.2–$4.5 million while keeping property and personal property tax rates unchanged. The budget includes one‑time capital investments, radio and water‑supply studies, compensation study funding and increased fire/rescue capital.
The Southampton County Board of Supervisors adopted the FY2026 budget at its May 27 meeting, approving staff‑recommended appropriations and ordinance amendments tied to the budget.
The county administrator (name not stated in the transcript) summarized the budget package and staff recommendations, saying the county had increased total appropriations by about $4.2 million to $4.5 million this year without raising the real estate or personal property tax rates. Staff and supervisors said the increase included both one‑time capital outlays and some recurring increases for public safety and social‑service components.
Specific items discussed during the meeting included a larger public‑safety and public‑works allocation (public safety increases cited as about $1.1 million and capital and debt service increases roughly $2.5 million), compensation‑study funding and a water‑supply/site study intended to support future economic development. Staff also said the county continues the radio project and a CDBG drainage project for Newsom.
Supervisors noted that some increases were one‑time: courthouse and radio projects, water‑supply planning and a compensation study were given as examples of expenditures intended to be completed or studied in 2026 and not necessarily repeated at the same level in subsequent years. The board unanimously adopted the budget and the related ordinances and planned to publish the final budget and ordinances as required.
The board did not raise the tax rate. Supervisor comments and citizen remarks during public comment included concerns that the budget added funds while some residents questioned return of unspent funds to taxpayers and school funding priorities.
