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Burke County adopts $116.2 million 2025–26 budget, trims property tax rate
Summary
The Burke County Board of Commissioners adopted a $116.2 million FY 2025–26 budget balanced at 55.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, approving targeted investments in education, public safety and a modest reduction in the property tax rate. The vote was 4–0 after a public hearing with no speakers.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 4–0 on June 16 to adopt the county—s Fiscal Year 2025——1 26 budget, a $116.2 million general fund plan the county manager described as balanced at "55 and a half cents." County Manager Brian Manning presented the plan during a public hearing and said it reflects the board—s priorities on education, public safety and economic development.
Manning said the proposed budget would allocate $20.5 million to Burke County Public Schools and boost public safety spending to about $30.9 million, a roughly 3% increase. "The total revenue for the budget, general fund is $116,200,000," Manning said. He described the budget as a continuation of a multiyear strategy of "react, rebuild, rethink," which emphasizes human capital, a capital improvement plan and fiscal stewardship.
The manager flagged several policy and revenue details: property tax would represent about 52.9% of the revenue portfolio; the county recommended a marginal tax-rate decrease that balances the budget at 55.5 cents; a 1% estimated property-tax base growth; and a conservative 98.5% collection assumption. Manning also outlined fee and rate changes to support enterprise funds: a water/sewer monthly customer fee rising from $25 to $30 (no consumption rate change) and a household solid-waste rate moving from $88 to $92 to cover increased tipping fees.
Manning identified inflationary pressures and state funding shifts as risks. "We've also accounted for the continued loss of revenues from Medicaid hold harmless," he said, describing a recurring $1.6 million revenue decline the county has been absorbing. He noted the county is not relying on volatile investment income to balance the budget but did budget $825,000 of investment receipts.
During the public hearing the chair opened the floor for comment but heard none; the board then closed the hearing and adopted Ordinance 2025-07 by a 4—0 vote. The formal motion to adopt the fiscal year 2025—26 budget ordinance passed on a recorded voice/show-of-hands vote.
The meeting also included related budget actions: the board approved a memorandum of agreement with the Burke County Board of Education for FY25—26 and approved most nonprofit funding allocations included in the budget by a 4—0 vote. Two nonprofit allocations (BDI and VETIC) were deferred after recusals created a potential quorum problem; county counsel advised that a majority of the board (three members) is required for the vote, so those items were postponed for a future meeting.
The board approved the budget as adopted and moved several budget-related consent items, including a year-end budget amendment of $3,460,908 and a project ordinance to appropriate $10,000,000 for the school central office project (estimated total cost about $11.5 million), all as part of the consent agenda.
What happens next: the budget ordinance is in effect for FY 2025—26; staff will implement the fee changes and capital priorities described in the budget. The board will return to unresolved nonprofit funding and any items requiring further review at a future meeting.
