Macon County manager proposes $63.7 million budget with pay increases, new health positions; commissioners enter closed session on property purchase

County Manager Derek Roland presented a recommended fiscal year 2024-25 operating budget of $63,704,651 to the Macon County Board of Commissioners on May 21, saying the plan "means more to him than any other one he has presented" and calling Macon County "one of the most financially solid local government organizations in the State of North Carolina." Roland said the proposal keeps the county’s debt capacity intact, maintains the county’s low tax rate and holds operating expenditures steady while preserving current employee health insurance costs.

Roland’s proposal includes a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees, a one‑step increase in the pay plan, and the addition of two environmental health positions. He also recommended an increase in educational funding tied to a three percent raise for county‑funded positions in the school system (30 positions currently funded by the county), and referenced Capital Improvement Project (CIP) allocations noted in the budget materials. In his remarks Roland highlighted recent and ongoing projects cited in the budget narrative, including broadband expansion in Nantahala, the Duotech expansion project, Macon Middle School locker room and track work, Southwestern Community College’s fire training facility, an expanded science classroom at the Grove Center, Nantahala’s wastewater property purchase, the Highlands School project, and the Franklin High School project.

Chris Stahl addressed the Enterprise Fund and requested a $12 increase to the availability fee, projecting about $330,000 in additional revenue. Stahl also said he had recommended a grade adjustment for Convenience Center staff that would allow approximately a 5% pay increase to current convenience center grades following a review requested by Commissioner Higdon.

The board took formal procedural action later in the evening. At 7:13 p.m. Commissioner Higdon moved and Commissioner Shearl seconded a motion to go into closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143‑318.11(a)(5) to discuss the acquisition of real property; the motion carried unanimously. The board returned to open session at 7:30 p.m. upon a motion by Commissioner Higdon, seconded by Commissioner Antoine. Immediately afterward Commissioner Shearl moved, Commissioner Antoine seconded, and the board voted unanimously to recess until 6:00 p.m. on May 28, 2024, for a joint budget work session with the Macon County Board of Education at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center, 100 Panther Drive, Franklin.

Copies of Roland’s PowerPoint and the proposed budget were filed with the Clerk to the Board. The May 28 joint session is scheduled to provide additional review of the recommended budget and capital priorities.