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Davie County holds required public hearing on 2026–27 budget; managers report modest reductions and set June 18 work session
Summary
County Manager Brian Barnett updated commissioners on the recommended 2026–27 budget, reporting reductions to the general fund and smaller-than-projected health-insurance increases after negotiated changes; the public hearing closed and the board penciled a June 18 work session to consider final adoption.
Davie County opened the statutorily required public hearing on its proposed 2026–27 budget on June 1, and County Manager Brian Barnett reported revisions since the May 21 recommendation that modestly reduce the general fund and adjust personnel and insurance assumptions.
Barnett said the recommended-all-funds total presented on May 21 was about $120.98 million and that the general fund recommendation has been reduced from roughly $94 million to about $93,494,383. Staff also adjusted the employee-health projections so the increase for next year now factors to about 14.1% after changes discussed with the board. Barnett said he is not recommending any new positions and that the capital-improvement plan and key utility projects remain in place.
During the public hearing, resident Shayen urged the commissioners to weigh long-term fiscal risks and to consider employee compensation in the county’s recruitment and retention strategy. The speaker supported reasonable adjustments but cautioned against short-term rebates that might expose the county to greater costs later.
Commissioners discussed the budget’s growth over recent years and signaled the intent to continue work on reductions and potential tax relief. One commissioner noted the budget had increased ‘‘almost $30 million’’ in five years and said there is room to reduce spending; another reiterated the goal of returning some of last year’s tax increases to citizens. The board closed the public comment portion by motion and scheduled a work session on June 18 to prepare for a formal adoption vote before the statutory June 30 deadline.
Separately, the board approved its consent agenda (4–1), which included several budget transfers and grant acceptances and an amendment to cover increased health insurance claims for the current fiscal year.
What’s next: Staff will return with any additional changes and the board will meet June 18 in a work session to consider adoption of the 2026–27 budget.
