Stokes County manager presents $74.6 million 2026 budget, proposes 58-cent tax rate

The county manager presented the proposed Stokes County FY2026 general fund budget on May 12, calling for $74.64 million in spending and a recommended property tax rate of 58 cents.

The proposal includes $6.7 million of appropriated fund balance and projects an ending fund balance of about 38.5% of budgeted expenditures at the end of 2026, according to the presentation. Key capital items cited were completion of the new animal shelter, replacement of one ambulance, new transfer‑station scales and targeted building-component replacements. Staffing changes included three new full‑time equivalents: an environmental health specialist, a deputy Department of Social Services director (50% state‑funded) and an EMS training officer; the plan also resources a shift‑schedule change for paramedics.

The five‑year operating plan accompanying the budget lays out assumptions — a long‑run 3.1% annual property tax base growth, 2% merit increases, a 2.9% cost‑of‑living adjustment already adopted, and modest revenue and expenditure variances used for prudence — that the manager said preserve fund balance above the board’s 30% policy minimum across the five‑year horizon. The manager warned that choices on school funding and district requests (including rural fire district funding) could change the recommended tax rate.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled ahead of a June 9 adoption vote; the manager said the full budget packet would be published online for public review before the hearing. Commissioners asked staff to verify details and noted further review was needed on the school funding ask and several district requests before final adoption.

The board did not adopt the budget at the meeting; staff will publish the packet and hold the public hearing as scheduled.