Camden County adopts $86.8 million FY27 budget, adds $10,000 for local museum from hotel tax

Camden County commissioners voted to adopt the county'wide fiscal year 2027 budget at a special called meeting, approving a package of 18 funds the board recorded as totaling $86,848,621.

Lisa, a county staff member presenting the budget, told the board the package reflected two expense reductions'a $370,963 cut in one department and an $82,218 reduction in a capital transfer'which reduced the planned use of fund balance. "The total of those funds is 86,848,621," she said. The document and resolution were attached to the commissioners' meeting materials and, she said, had been advertised and subject to a public hearing on June 11.

After a motion to adopt the budget, a commissioner moved to amend the approved figures to add $10,000 to the museum line item to support additional staffing, expanded hours and supplies. The amendment specified the increase would come from the hotel/motel tax. "I'll amend my motion to add $10,000 to the 'line item which is coming out of the hotel motel tax," the mover said; the amendment was seconded and adopted. The minutes record one dissent: "Commissioner Smith opposed." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally of votes for the final adoption.

The budget presentation included a reported post-advertisement reduction in projected expenses that lowered the budgeted use of fund balance; the staff summary in the record lists the reductions but the transcript shows one figure for the carried-forward balance as garbled in the audio record and not clear in the minutes.

The meeting also approved a routine renewal of the public defenders'office contract (see related item). No formal public comments were made on the county budget during the special call meeting.

The board adjourned the special call session after completing the evening's business. A follow-up or ordinance-level publication of the final budget and any corrected minute language will be part of the official county record.