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Council reallocates $79,500 tied to airport subsidy to fund outside agencies, schedules May 11 budget hearing
Summary
At a April 28 budget work session the Washington City Council agreed by consensus to reallocate $79,500 in funds associated with the airport subsidy to outside agencies, set a May 11 public hearing, and directed staff to proceed with a two-cent tax-rate reduction.
City Manager Jon Rorie said on April 28 that the council will fund outside agencies as requested and has scheduled a budget public hearing for May 11, 2026, while moving forward with a two-cent property-tax-rate reduction.
Council members agreed by consensus to reallocate $79,500 that had been associated with the municipal airport subsidy to outside non-profit agencies. The reallocated funds match the total of the FY 2026‑27 requests presented by staff: Boys & Girls Club $20,000; Purpose of God Annex $20,000; Zion Shelter and Kitchen $10,000; Corner Stone Fun Program $6,500; Re‑Leaf $5,000; Inner Banks STEM Center $5,000; Ruth’s House Inc. $3,000; Open Door Community $3,000; Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County $2,500; Eagle Wings $2,500; Safe Harbor Helpline $2,000; The Blind Center $0.
Councilmember Max Perreault cautioned that recipients must be told how funds may be spent, noting that outside-agency allocations cannot be used for payroll or insurance under Local Government Commission (LGC) guidelines. The Finance Director told the council that the airport “cannot operate without the subsidy,” framing staff’s recommendation to cover those agency requests by reallocating the airport subsidy line.
City Manager Rorie also recommended that Council consider a formal cap on outside-agency funding next year and suggested an upper limit of $160,000 for FY 2027 to provide clearer guidance for allocations.
The council’s action at the work session was made by consensus rather than a formal roll-call vote; the budget public hearing is set for May 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, where the council may take further formal action on the FY 2026‑27 budget.
