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Columbus County adopts lean FY 2026'27 budget, rejects raise for one commissioner
Summary
The Board approved a balanced FY 2026'27 budget without a cost-of-living adjustment and with a $2.36 million fund-balance appropriation; the vote passed 5—–1 with Commissioner Byrd opposed after public comments urging employee pay increases.
Columbus County commissioners on June 1 adopted a "very lean" FY 2026'27 budget that holds the county's property tax rate steady and relies on a $2,364,954 fund-balance appropriation to close a gap created in part by a $2 million tax release and reductions in state and federal reimbursements.
Deputy Finance Officer Melanie Hester told the board, "This is a very lean budget that includes only necessary operating expenses due to a tax release that reduced our revenues by $2 million," and said the budget includes no cost-of-living adjustment, no approved raises or new General Fund positions, and the removal of capital outlay in the General Fund. She cited rising insurance and retirement costs and a 2.4% State Health Plan surcharge as drivers of higher expenses.
The budget reduces department salary and benefit lines where positions remain vacant, trims travel and discretionary spending, and limits capital purchases to preserve the county's commitment to not raising the property-tax rate. Hester said staff will work to avoid using the fund balance "unless absolutely necessary," and that requests for those funds will be closely vetted.
Two county employees addressed the board during the budget hearing. Tammy Vereen, a 31-year county employee, pleaded: "Please do not fail us," describing employees who "are now forced to work second jobs" and urging commissioners to find ways to provide pay increases or other incentives. Kayla Murphy asked the board to consider nonpay incentives such as additional time off or mental-health days to ease financial pressure on staff.
Commissioner Coleman moved to adopt the budget; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bullard and passed on a roll-call vote of 5—–1 (Ayes: Coleman, Bullard, Floyd, Featherson, Watts; Nay: Byrd). The clerk's minutes note that a full copy of the adopted FY 26/27 budget is housed in the clerk's office.
The action closes the board's formal budget process for the year but leaves open operational decisions by department heads within the adopted appropriation and the board's prior instruction to limit hiring and nonessential expenditures.
