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Caldwell County approves revenue-neutral 2026-27 budget, adds 5% pay increase for DSS staff
Summary
Commissioners adopted a revenue-neutral budget (46.66') for 2026-27 and voted unanimously to add a targeted 5% cost-of-living adjustment for Department of Social Services employees; the revenue-neutral posture draws on appropriated fund balance and leaves broader countywide COLA decisions for later.
The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a revenue-neutral 2026-27 budget and approved an amendment to add a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for Department of Social Services employees. Commissioner Starnes moved the revenue-neutral budget at the close of the public hearing; the board later considered a separate proposal to extend a 5% COLA to all county employees but instead approved a targeted 5% COLA for DSS.
County Manager Shane Fox said the budget before the board totals about $111 million and that adopting the revenue-neutral rate would require a sizable fund-balance appropriation. "Approximately with benefits about $3,000,000 is what it is across the board," Fox said when asked for a countywide 5% estimate; he later explained the county could fund a focused 5% for DSS for roughly $600,000 gross and about $300,000 net after reimbursements. Commissioners said they preferred using appropriated fund balance and targeted adjustments now, with a commitment to reassess conditions midyear.
The board also approved consent items tied to the budget, including a $820,000 school resource officer allocation and other sales-tax-funded projects, and then adopted the budget ordinance as amended. The county manager and finance staff warned that the revenue-neutral posture will use fund balance and that commissioners must weigh reserve targets against employee compensation and future obligations.
