Dare County Manager Bobby Outten presented a budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1 to county commissioners on Monday that totals $242,865,850.
The spending plan also sets the base property tax rate at a revenue-neutral level of 26.32 cents per $100 valuation.
While the tax rate is much lower than what was charged in 2024, the recently completed revaluation showed the value of properties throughout Dare County increased by an average of 67%.
That allows the county to keep property taxes at a revenue neutral rate, according to Outten.
General fund spending is $143,011,201 of the total budget, which Outten told commissioners maintains Dare County’s high-quality service delivery to residents, property owners and visitors, while also addressing the board’s goals.
Major spending increases in the proposal include:
- $2,214,435 to increase Dare County Schools’ local current expense funding.
- $1,799,176 from the local current expense calculation.
- $415,000 approved during fiscal year 2025 for free school lunches.
- $252,000 for email services and Information Technology security services.
- $249,283 for utilities.
- $226,950 for insurance increases for property, liability and workers compensation.
- $201,422 for maintenance and repair of facilities.
- $160,161 for Motorola contract increases for Communications.
- $95,000 for new facilities operating costs.
- $53,000 for EMS medical supplies cost increases.
Individual departmental increases include:
- Dare County Schools: $2,781,055; +9.02%
- Emergency Medical Services & HEMS: $1,053,701; +4.75%
- Sheriff, including Detention & Communications: $869,341; +4.54%
- Health & Human Services $738,356; 3.70%
- Information Technology $411,432; +18.07%
- Public Works (all departments) $273,266; +4.70%
The budget also includes a 3.0% cost of living pay increase for full-time eligible employees at a cost of $1,684,439. Part-time pay rates are increased by $0.50 per hour at a cost of $74,815.
There is an increase of $498,365 for a state rate increase for the retirement system, $359,083 budgeted for new positions, reclassifications, and certification pay, and $57,904 for retiree supplemental health costs.
And the budget sets aside $7,075,000 in the county’s fund balance, which is inline with a recently adopted policy of 5% or less of expenditures (increased from 3.0% for 2026 and 2027 only) at 4.95%.
Outten’s presentation also included a projected Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget of $247,340,675.
Dare County commissioners will hold a public hearing for the proposed FY 2025-26 budget during the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting, which will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 9.
During the public hearing, in-person comments on the proposed budget will be accepted at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo, as well as the Fessenden Center Annex, which is located at 47013 Buxton Back Road in Buxton.
The full budget proposal can be found at https://www.darenc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/15599/638820621245363514
In addition, Dare County now provides access to revenue and expenditure details via a ClearGov transparency site which can be accessed at Dare-NC.ClearGov.com.
