Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Haywood County budget outlook strained as $17.7M in local debris costs wait on FEMA reimbursement
Summary
At its March 16 meeting, Haywood County managers detailed FY27 budget planning that includes an $11 million debris appropriation and roughly $17.7 million in local dollars awaiting federal reimbursement, prompting discussion of EWP funding, personnel costs and capital needs ahead of a May presentation and June adoption.
County staff presented the fiscal-year 2027 budget planning outlook at the March 16 Haywood County Board of Commissioners meeting, flagging large unreimbursed debris costs from recent storms and several budget pressures that could affect next year’s tax and spending decisions.
The county manager summarized recent financials and said the board had appropriated about $11 million for debris shortly after adopting the prior budget; staff estimate the federal government owes the county roughly $19.2 million in debris-related funds but had paid about $1.6 million, leaving “about $17,700,000 in local dollars that we’re trying to recapture,” the manager said.
Commissioners and the manager discussed how delayed FEMA reimbursements can force the county to front significant local dollars and complicate decisions about starting additional federally supported projects. The manager noted potential EWP (Emergency Watershed Protection) work could cost $7–10 million and asked commissioners to weigh whether the county should start that program before reimbursements arrive.
Staff also reviewed revenue trends and budget drivers: property-tax revenue is relatively stable but limited in growth; sales-tax receipts showed month-to-month volatility (a drop in December vs. the prior year); health-insurance and state retirement costs are rising; and operating pressures include growing EMS and 911 call volumes. The manager said the county will face staffing and operating-cost decisions, including whether to fund COLA and merit increases and additional positions tied to new programs.
On the agenda the board unanimously approved several routine items and budget-related requests: a motion to approve the five-item consent agenda; approval of a $770,000 rollover of unspent Haywood Community College capital funds to complete delayed projects; and approval of four new positions for a county substance-use treatment program funded from opioid-settlement dollars.
Dr. Sarah Banks, public-health services division director, described the opioid-settlement–funded program and outlined four requested positions (a program director, a psychiatric advanced-practice provider, and two case-management/peer-support positions). Finance staff said the county has budgeted opioid funds through FY25 and that the settlement money is regulated and currently sufficient to support the positions over the planned tenure; commissioners asked about caseloads and hiring timelines.
Next steps: staff will return with the formal FY27 budget presentation (staff proposed presenting May 4, a public hearing May 18 and a target adoption date of June 1) and with additional detail on FEMA reimbursement timing and whether to proceed with EWP work.
