The Moore County Board of Commissioners received its proposed $252.5 million budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 on Tuesday night. The report outlined tax rate adjustments, education funding, and public safety investments while also fielding criticism over a proposed constitutional amendment tied to property taxes.
County Manager Wayne Vest presented the recommended budget during the board’s May 19 meeting and called it a balanced plan that continues to prioritize education, public safety, and health services.
The proposal includes a half-cent reduction in the county’s general fund tax rate to 29 cents per $100 valuation and a half-cent increase in the advanced life support tax rate to 4.25 cents. The rural fire protection rate would remain unchanged at 8.75 cents.
Vest said the overall county tax rate would stay the same.
The budget recommends allocating more than $54.7 million to Moore County Schools and about $8 million to Sandhills Community College. Vest explained that education accounts for nearly 40 percent of the county’s general fund budget.
The county also plans to add several new full-time positions, most tied to the transition of school resource officers from the school system to the sheriff’s office.
At the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 5, the board approved a resolution supporting Moore County Schools in dissolving its Police Department. Now, the county is working toward a successful transition of the School Resource Officer Program to the Office of the Moore County Sheriff.
Commissioners then spent part of the meeting discussing how opioid settlement funds should be used. The proposed budget includes $825,000 for recovery support and naloxone distribution programs through partners, including FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Samaritan Colony, and Adult & Teen Challenge.
“The County continues to receive funding through the national opioid settlement agreements reached with pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers related to the opioid epidemic,” writes Health Director Matthew Garner in his agenda presented to the commissioners. “These funds are intended to support evidence-based strategies that address opioid misuse, treatment, recovery, prevention, and related impacts within the community.”
Reviewing the current strategy, Garner added that the list of current opioid settlement partners will remain unchanged, allowing for continuity of services and ongoing support of established initiatives already serving county residents.
Commissioner Nick Picerno and Commissioner Tom Adams both raised concerns that the county still lacks enough prevention-focused programs for people at risk of addiction before substance abuse begins.
Commissioners also approved scheduling a June 2 public hearing on the proposed East Moore Water District budget, which includes a 3 percent increase in water base rates and usage fees.
County officials said the increases are intended to keep pace with inflation while minimizing the burden on ratepayers.
A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for June 2 at 5:30 p.m.
To watch the meeting online, please click here.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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