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Cabarrus County presents FY27 budget, keeps tax rate at 57.6¢; board authorizes filing for $400M school and college bond referendum
Summary
Interim County Manager Kelly Sippford presented the FY27 recommended budget that holds the county tax rate at $0.576 per $100 valuation and outlined a balanced plan with targeted public-safety hiring. Separately, the board authorized filing a general obligation bond application to the Local Government Commission seeking up to $340M for schools and $60M for RCCC.
Interim County Manager Kelly Sippford presented Cabarrus County’s recommended FY27 budget at the May 18 Board of Commissioners meeting and said staff recommends maintaining the property tax rate at $0.576 per $100 of assessed value while managing growth and service needs.
Sippford said the recommended budget includes capital investments and service priorities and that staff had worked to balance an initial projected deficit through reallocations and conservative revenue forecasting. "It is with a strong sense of accomplishment that I submit this recommended budget to the board," Sippford said in the presentation materials.
Key points: staff reported total resources across all funds of $559,576,464; the recommended general fund presented to the board reflected single-digit percentage growth (staff cited a 3.17% increase, later adjusted to a 3.53% technical correction after proposed state budget changes). The recommended package includes adding 21 positions to the sheriff’s office to support detention operations and proposes replacement ambulances and capital maintenance projects countywide.
School funding and teacher pay: Sippford described a plan to apply a planned reserve and portion of fund balance to support teacher-pay increases and one-time bonuses, and said the county’s total contribution to all school systems would increase by 6.37% under staff calculations. Commissioners noted the public hearing schedule and the possibility of additional workshops before formal adoption.
Bond referendum: Separately, the board voted to authorize staff to file a general obligation bond referendum application with the Local Government Commission. County staff recommended a maximum of $340 million for public-school projects and $60 million for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (total $400 million). Staff said the ballot will list specific projects as required and that the county will continue to discuss oversight and possible citizen review options. Commissioner Pitman emphasized that a general obligation bond allows voters to decide on the ballot.
What comes next: The board scheduled a public hearing on the proposed FY27 budget and staff said final adoption is expected in June; the bond application filing will allow the county to move the referendum process forward and, if approved, place detailed project lists on the ballot for voter consideration.
