Pitt County manager unveils proposed $427 million budget with no tax increase

Pitt County Manager Janice Gunner told the Board of Commissioners on May 4 that she is recommending a balanced fiscal year 2026-27 budget of just over $427 million and that the proposal does not include a tax increase.

"This proposed budget remains conservative. It lives within our current means, and it does not recommend a tax increase," Gunner said, providing a high-level overview of the recommended spending plan and a slide deck with more detail.

Why it matters: the plan directs the largest single share of funding to education, proposes targeted increases for employee pay and benefits, and realigns funding for human services and public health after years of assigned department fund balances. Gunner said the budget is built to align with the county's first strategic plan and four core objectives: community well-being, economic vitality, balanced development and organizational excellence.

Key numbers and priorities: Gunner said about 60% of projected revenues come from ad valorem taxes and the recommended budget supports roughly $5 million more for Pitt County Schools (a reported 9% increase over last year). The proposal includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees and a merit increase of 1.2% or 2.4% depending on performance. The general fund is about $10 million larger than last year, representing roughly a 5.25% increase, according to the presentation.

The manager proposed meeting Pitt Community College's operating request in full, providing $100,000 for capital and $3.8 million in one-time cash-funded projects using restricted sales tax (including a $2 million waterline project, $1.2 million roofing phase and $500,000 for security improvements). For K-12, the manager recommended funding several capital projects and allocating $1 million for general capital needs.

Public-health and social-services funding: Gunner described a technical shift in how Department of Social Services and Public Health are funded. In prior years, unspent funds for those departments were held in assigned fund balances; the plan intentionally used those balances and now relies more on current revenues to fund services. Gunner said DSS balances are depleted and public health fund balances will be next year, and that staff will present details in workshops.

Public safety and sheriff's budget: the proposed budget backfills about $1.2 million in lost revenues caused when the sheriff stopped taking federal inmates for space reasons and recommends funding for two of the 18 positions the sheriff requested.

Other features: the plan includes six new county positions (two in 911, one custodian, two replacement positions for formerly grant-funded sheriff programs, and a public-health physician assistant), modest one-time capital investments (vehicles, building maintenance, courthouse security), and a proposed cost-share pilot for regenerative medicine in the county health plan for employees.

Next steps: Gunner said budget workshops will be held through the week and a public hearing is scheduled for June 2. The manager encouraged commissioners to review the budget notebooks and attend workshops for line-item questions.

Source: presentation to the Pitt County Board of Commissioners by County Manager Janice Gunner on May 4, 2026.