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Cherokee County commissioners approve FY26 budget changes including VFD tax increases and cardiac monitors
Summary
At a May 22 special meeting the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a set of FY26 budget changes by consensus, funding two cardiac monitors, approving fire tax increases for two volunteer fire departments, adjusting several nonprofit and school funding items, and authorizing repairs and equipment purchases.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — At a special called meeting May 22, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted by consensus to alter portions of the county manager’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget, approving equipment purchases, tax-rate changes for two volunteer fire departments, and targeted adjustments to nonprofit and school funding.
The board approved spending $99,806 to purchase two additional cardiac monitors for county emergency services. Commissioners also agreed to a 25% reduction in the county’s FY26 funding for the North Carolina Forest Service and cut the Valley River Humane Society’s funding to a six-month allocation of $125,117, with a plan to re-evaluate progress in three months.
The commissioners authorized increases to two volunteer fire departments’ local fire tax rates: Culberson Volunteer Fire Department’s rate from 5.4 cents to 9 cents and Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department’s rate from 6.4 cents to 9.5 cents. The board recorded these approvals as part of the consensus changes to the FY26 budget.
On education funding, the board added $918,243 in FY25 Article 46 sales-tax proceeds into the Article 46 allocation for the Cherokee County Board of Education for FY26. The board also approved directing Schools of Innovation sales-tax refunds to the Cherokee County Board of Education to help cover operational cost increases for at least two years.
Separately, commissioners approved the use of $17,000 from annex elevator funds to make repairs to the bank at the Texana Community Center prior to the Juneteenth event, and authorized using $47,190 in rescue funds for Hiwassee Dam VFD to purchase a boat equipped with sonar.
The meeting record states the Board approved the listed changes by consensus. The session concluded after Commissioner Alan Bryant moved to adjourn and Commissioner Mark Stiles seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
