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Lee County public hearing on FY26–27 budget highlights EMS contract cost and school funding requests
Summary
At a public hearing on the recommended FY26–27 budget, the county manager recommended a tax-rate increase (two cents plus three targeted pennies) to cover an anticipated EMS contract increase, replenish capital reserves and address deferred maintenance; dozens of residents urged more funding for schools and safety‑net nonprofits.
The Lee County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on the recommended FY26–27 budget and heard more than a dozen residents urge higher funding for schools and essential services.
County Manager (read into the record by staff) outlined the recommended package, saying the continuation budget at 0.65 (65 cents) per $100 valuation would cover normal growth but that commissioners were being asked to consider a two‑cent increase to fund essential services and three targeted one‑cent increases. The manager said the change would fully fund routine salary adjustments (including a 2.2% cost‑of‑living adjustment and pay‑plan adjustments), restore capital reserve funding and address a multi‑million‑dollar deferred‑maintenance backlog. On the largest line item, the manager said the county is negotiating a five‑year EMS contract with First Health of the Carolinas and that the contract proposals in hand would add roughly $1,767,665 over the current year and produce a projected EMS cost of about $2.87 million for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
Residents focused most comments on schools. Aaron Rayner told the board that Lee County "is not competitive with our surrounding counties anymore" and urged approval of the school board's request. A string of parents, educators and former employees described aging buildings, personnel shortages and the added nonacademic responsibilities that schools now shoulder, arguing that increased local funding would improve retention and student outcomes.
Several speakers also urged the county to protect core nonprofit services. Gwendolyn Lee Cooper, executive director of Helping Hand Clinic, said the clinic — which she described as "the only free brick and mortar clinic in this entire county" — faces reductions in county grant support and warned that cuts would leave uninsured residents with fewer options for primary care and increase emergency‑room use.
Opponents of the proposed tax increase urged restraint. Jim Womack and others questioned the budget's assumptions, highlighted recent capital projects and suggested performance audits or renegotiation of contracts (including the EMS arrangement) as alternatives to a broad tax increase.
After the hearing closed, the board announced it will consider the recommended figures at upcoming meetings and a work session scheduled for June 5. The transcript provided the substantive presentations and public comments but does not include a final roll‑call vote on the tax rate in the record excerpt provided.
