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County manager presents FY 2026-27 recommended budget, proposes slight tax-rate adjustment and targeted appropriations
Summary
County Manager Lance Metzler presented a $192.99 million recommended all-funds FY 2026-27 budget that would modestly change the tax rate from 58.01 cents to 57.9 cents, proposes approximately $4.3 million from fund balance and includes several new positions and capital projects; the board scheduled a budget workshop and a public hearing.
County Manager Lance Metzler presented the Rockingham County recommended FY 2026-27 budget at the board's May meeting, outlining revenues, proposed appropriations and next steps in the public process.
Metzler said the recommended all-funds budget totals $192,989,361 and that the county's general fund balance stands at $140,523,568. He recommended a slight change to the county's property tax rate from 58.01 cents to 57.9 cents and said the county projects an ad valorem tax base of about $3.09 billion. Metzler recommended appropriating roughly $4.3 million from fund balance, describing line items that include a typical $2.5 million plug, one-time allowable expenses, and unearned salary adjustments.
Metzler identified recommended staffing changes and investments: five paramedic positions to staff a peak-hour shift at Stokesdale Fire Department; a dental hygienist in public health; a grant-writer position in administration; three water and sewer positions to bring more oversight in-house; and reclassifications in social services. He also proposed reinstating retiree health care coverage until Medicare eligibility and using more than $2 million for capital improvement projects that include animal shelter upgrades, Eden Library updates, parking-lot improvements and Western EMS base improvements.
On compensation, Metzler recommended a 2% cost-of-living increase and a 1% vacancy savings figure, with an average of about a 3% performance/merit component. He said sales tax is projected at a little over $19 million and highlighted specific revenue assumptions for motor vehicles, public utilities and interest earnings.
Metzler concluded by noting the next steps: a budget work session on May 29 at 9 a.m. and a public hearing on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. He thanked the budget team and staff for their work in preparing the recommendation.
"The team has worked very hard to put together a solid budget for you all this year," Metzler said on the record.
