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Cabarrus County advances FY27 budget, absorbs local cost of proposed teacher raises; public hearing opened
Summary
County staff presented the proposed FY27 adopted budget and technical adjustments, moving $2.3 million in local impacts from state-proposed teacher raises into the general fund and using $1,167,000 of fund balance to balance FY27; the board opened the public hearing and will consider adoption on June 15. A public commenter urged commissioners to maintain full funding for local elections.
Cabarrus County budget presenter Raj summarized updates to the proposed FY27 adopted budget, telling the commissioners the county’s revenues now show a 3.52% increase and approximately $8.7 million in adjustments compared with early estimates. The county moved the local portion of proposed state teacher raises and bonuses — a $2.3 million total local impact — into the general fund and will use $1,167,000 of fund balance to balance FY27, Raj said.
Raj said the county adjusted revenue and expenditure lines across major categories — property tax, sales tax, intergovernmental, permits and fees, sales and services, and investments — and that technical adjustments included reimbursements for security at behavioral health facilities, uniforms and equipment for detention and security positions, and corrected sales tax allocations affecting county and fire district shares.
The presenter gave a breakdown of how the $2.3 million would flow to education: about $1.9 million for Cabarrus County Schools, roughly $221,000 for the municipal district (Canapapolis City Schools), and smaller amounts for charter schools and other districts; part of the increase represents one-time bonuses. "A portion of that is one-time money," Raj said, explaining how recurring and nonrecurring costs were separated in the five-year projection. He told the board the FY27 operating budget is balanced.
During public comment, Cheyenne Caldwell of Common Cause North Carolina said she supported the budget manager’s recommendation to fully fund the Cabarrus County Board of Elections and urged the board to maintain that support so the county can staff more polling places, add early voting sites and preserve weekend hours. Caldwell said Cabarrus spent about 28% less on election operations in 2021 than comparable counties and argued the difference likely reduced turnout.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the fund-balance set-aside and contingency planning should the state budget change; Raj said the county retained other hold items in the CIP and that the $1,167,000 is a known use of fund balance for FY27. Staff also outlined remaining steps in the schedule: a budget workshop if needed and final adoption set for the June 15 meeting. The board moved and opened the FY27 budget public hearing as part of tonight’s meeting and later voted to direct staff to prepare the FY27 budget ordinance for formal adoption.
