Hamlin County sets 2026–27 tax levy after heated debate over moving school pennies to fund raises

Hamlin County commissioners on June 25 adopted Resolution 26-09 to fix the county tax levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, after a lengthy public hearing and extended debate over whether to move three cents of the school property tax to the general fund to finance larger pay raises for county employees.

The proposed amendment, advanced by Commissioner Edna Green and supported by members of the public, would have transferred three pennies of the school property tax to the general fund so the commission could increase raises for deputies and other county staff. At a public comment earlier in the meeting, Eddie Ingram urged the commission to raise the sheriff’s office pay more than the proposed 5% and asked the board to “increase the proposed raise for the sheriff's office from the 5% to at least 10,” arguing higher pay would improve retention and reduce long-term costs from turnover.

In public hearing remarks, a resident who signed up for the budget hearing urged commissioners to “move three cents from the school tax levy to the general fund” to create immediate budget flexibility to cover raises and E-911 needs. Finance staff provided budget arithmetic during the debate: one penny of the property tax was reported as approximately $279,000; commissioners and staff estimated three pennies would yield roughly $837,000 and that a 10% increase for the sheriff’s department would require about $535,000.

Opponents warned the transfer would create a recurring cost and could trigger higher property taxes in future years. Commissioners repeatedly cited maintenance-of-effort rules and the risk of setting a permanent obligation that the county might not be able to sustain. “What you’re doing is setting up an imperative tax increase for next year,” one commissioner said during the debate, warning that borrowing from school property tax could require future revenue actions to restore funding.

The transfer amendment was put to a roll-call vote and failed, 5 yes, 7 no. The recorded yes votes were Jamie Carter, Thomas, Edna Green, Wayne Smith and Walker; the no votes were Stan Harble, Tim, Peggy, Rodney Long, Reed, Mike Richardson and one other listed in the roll call. After the failed amendment, the commission approved Resolution 26-09 as presented.

Why it matters: the decision preserves the school property-tax allocation for the coming year and leaves pay decisions for deputies and other county employees to be addressed within the adopted budget or future appropriations. Commissioners who opposed the transfer emphasized the county’s long-term fiscal obligations, while supporters argued immediate pay increases are necessary to retain law-enforcement staff and maintain public safety.

What’s next: with the tax levy set and the general appropriations resolution adopted, funding decisions for specific raises will be determined in the appropriations phase and by any future budget amendments. The commission did approve appropriations resolutions for the fiscal year and a separate nonprofit appropriations resolution during the same meeting.