Nash County manager presents FY2026 balanced budget; school classified staff press commissioners for pay help

County Manager presented the recommended fiscal year 2026 budget to the Nash County Board of Commissioners on June 2, followed by a public hearing in which multiple Nash County Public Schools classified employees urged higher pay and other supports.

The manager described the FY2026 plan as balanced and fiscally conservative while targeting local priorities: employee wages (a recommended 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for full‑time and permanent part‑time staff effective July 1, 2025), a new merit pay system beginning Jan. 1, 2026, technology and vehicle replacements, public safety staffing and capital projects. The general fund proposal totaled $128,123,693, a 2.1% increase over FY2025, and the overall county budget was $146,445,372. The manager said the recommended budget assumes a 98% collection rate and a tax base increase of about 3.27% from 2024 valuations and remains based on the existing 63¢ per $100 valuation tax rate.

The manager summarized personnel additions and benefits proposals: eight new positions across the county including IT support for Social Services, a coordinated health services position, a finance specialist, a recreation program supervisor and two senior patrol deputies; a 2.5% COLA; and initiation of a market‑based job study to cover a third of positions in FY26. The budget also contains an increase in retirement rate costs tied to North Carolina retirement rate changes.

During the public hearing dozens of school employees and substitutes urged the commissioners to do more for classified staff who work as bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, aides and other roles. Thelma Harris, a school bus monitor, told the board she had brought nearly 200 postcards from school employees who could not attend the hearing and asked commissioners to hold another hearing at a time when more staff can attend: “I have a simple request today. I know you all have discussed an additional meeting if more discussions were needed. And I'm asking that you hold another public hearing on the budget at a time that my colleagues can be here. You should hear them.”

Several speakers described long service, low hourly wages and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff. Alicia Hayman, who identified herself as a 27‑year employee, said: “As a 27 year veteran of Nash County Schools ... I'm making $18 an hour.” Bus drivers and substitutes described repeated short‑notice calls, lack of substitutes and longer morning call‑in windows that leave some routes understaffed.

After public comment, commissioners discussed the budget and the requests from school staff. The board did not adopt the budget at the hearing; the manager said the formal budget ordinance will be presented at the June 16 meeting. The board gave direction to the manager to coordinate with Nash County Public Schools and county legal staff to collect specific information on (1) the cost to provide a $500 one‑time bonus to classified school staff and (2) the options and costs to place school resource officers (SROs) in schools. Commissioners asked the manager to return with cost estimates, legal guidance about how county and school funding could be coordinated, and clarity about which funding streams (state, grants, county) could pay for SROs and classified pay adjustments.

County and school officials said they will continue to exchange information before commissioners consider final action on the FY2026 budget at the June 16 meeting.