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Beaufort County administration proposes integrating human services with Nexus Care as FY27 budget fix
Summary
County administration told council it plans to integrate Reach, CONNECT and community service grant programs with Nexus Care through the FY27 budget to correct a special-revenue fund deficit and avoid audit findings; council members pressed for assurances that services and staffing would continue.
Beaufort County officials said Tuesday they plan to fold several human-services programs into Nexus Care as part of the fiscal year 2027 budget process to address a negative special-revenue fund balance and avoid future audit findings.
County Administrator Moore told the Beaufort County Council the administration is proposing to transfer programs including Reach (services for people experiencing homelessness), CONNECT (service coordination) and the community service grant program into Nexus Care's existing infrastructure, with any implementation to take effect July 1, 2026, subject to council approval. "Nexus Care has the ability to integrate the programs of human services into its existing infrastructure to deliver comprehensive client-centered services," Moore said.
In a separate presentation, the county CFO (identified in the meeting materials as Harriet) said an audited adjustment left one special-revenue account about $178,000 in the red for FY25. She said the county must correct the negative balance and that the administration's recommendation to transition related services and accounts would be addressed through the FY27 budget cycle. "To avoid future audit findings, we're trying to address the problem now," Harriet said.
Council members pressed staff on whether the programs and grants would continue and on staffing levels. Administrator Moore responded that Reach and CONNECT and the community service grant programs "will continue" and said existing positions could be funded from the general fund while the transition is finalized. He added that Nexus Care, which the administration described as a revenue-generating organization, could offset some general-fund expenditures.
Several council members warned that human services and alcohol-and-drug programs have different missions and training needs. Council member Glover said he was "very disturbed" by a proposed merge of programs that he characterized as "like water and oil," noting concerns about reduced staffing and different program missions. Moore and Harriet said the county would provide more information during the budget process and research the special-revenue account history.
Why it matters: Council must balance audit compliance and fund health with continuity of services for vulnerable residents. Several council members asked for clearer historical accounting and assurances about how many positions would remain and how services to unsheltered residents would be sustained.
What comes next: The administration said the integration would be considered in the FY27 budget; council indicated it would continue asking questions at upcoming budget meetings.
