McDowell County adopts FY27 budget with 3% COLA, $750,000 sheriff appropriation

The McDowell County Board of Commissioners approved the FY27 budget after a day of discussion about employee pay, school funding and public-safety needs. Mr. Wooten, staff lead on the ordinance, told the board the updated budget contains a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and preserves a per-employee-per-month health-insurance target of $1,000 (current actual payroll estimate stated as $810).

Board members discussed several line items in detail. Staff confirmed the ordinance includes a $750,000 appropriation from jail reserves earmarked for sheriff’s operations and funding for two sheriff’s-office positions (a telecommunicator and a detective). The board also reviewed an updated fee schedule that raises the landfill tipping fee (discussed in the meeting as roughly $75–$80) and primarily affects commercial and industrial accounts; staff said residential tonnage fees apply to property owners who cross the scale.

One commissioner said they supported the 3% COLA and the two public-safety positions but objected to leaving school and college funding at a 0% increase. After discussion and a motion to adopt the ordinance, the board approved the budget and the chair thanked members for their work in finalizing the plan.

The board did not record a detailed roll-call tally for the budget vote in the transcript; staff announced the ordinance was approved and the county will move forward with implementation and incorporation of the updated fee schedule. Next steps include administrative actions to finalize appropriation details and implement the approved personnel changes.