Proposed budget gets first reading Monday

5:20 p.m. May 17, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Moore County’s proposed 2026-27 budget takes its first formal step Monday night, giving residents their first chance to weigh in publicly on a spending plan that includes a 2-cent property tax increase and uses county reserves to help cover general fund costs.

Metro Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, at the American Legion building, 119 Booneville Hwy. A public hearing is set for 6:20 p.m.

The agenda lists the “FY 26-27 Budgets” for first reading under new business.

The proposed countywide property tax rate is $1.7612 per $100 of assessed value. That is up from $1.7412 in the current budget year. For properties inside the urban services district, the proposal adds $0.0068, bringing the proposed urban rate to $1.7680.

If approved, the 2-cent increase would add about $20 a year for every $100,000 in assessed value, before any urban services charge.

The Tax Rate Breakdown

The proposed tax levy is split across several county funds.

Schools would receive the largest piece, at $0.8300 of the proposed rate. The general fund would receive $0.6689. Debt service would receive $0.1774. Solid waste, highway, and capital projects would receive smaller portions.

Together, those pieces total $1.7612.

The general fund may get the closest look on Monday night.

The proposed general fund budget shows about $6.89 million in revenue and about $7.40 million in spending for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. That leaves a projected gap of about $517,712, which the budget document shows will be covered by fund balance.

That does not make the budget wrong. But it does mean the county would be leaning on savings to get through the year. Reserves can help in a tight budget season; they cannot address the recurring costs.

Under the proposal, the estimated general fund balance would fall from about $2.1 million at the start of the year to about $1.59 million by June 30, 2027.

First Reading, Not Final Approval

Monday’s vote is the first step in the budget approval process. It is not the final vote.

A first reading usually opens the door for more discussion before a second and final reading.

For residents, Monday’s meeting is the first real checkpoint. The budget is not final, but this is when the plan begins to move toward a June decision. Anyone with questions about the tax increase, the use of reserves, or the way money is divided among county funds will have a chance to hear the discussion in public.

Residents may speak during the 6:20 p.m. public hearing before council members take up the budget during the 6:30 p.m. regular meeting.