Board adopts formal financial policies and approves school appropriation; general fund appropriation approved as listed

The Southampton County Board of Supervisors on March 26 adopted formal financial policy guidelines presented by Davenport & Company and approved an appropriation to the county’s school fund.

David Rose of Davenport & Company briefed the board on recommended best practices and policy goals, highlighting fund-balance policy and a proposed budget-stabilization fund. Rose recommended a target unassigned fund balance of 25% of the general fund and an additional 5% budget-stabilization fund (30% combined) to be built over approximately three years. He explained these reserves improve fiscal stability, support credit ratings and reduce the need for short-term borrowing.

The board discussed the recommendation, asked questions about comparative peer-group benchmarks and debt ratios, and voted unanimously to adopt the financial policy guidelines. Supervisors noted the policies will be memorialized and used to guide multiyear budgeting and the capital-improvement program.

Separately, the board approved an appropriation resolution providing $131,987.97 in revenue to Southampton County Public Schools. The agenda also listed a general-fund appropriation described in the packet; the board moved and voice-voted to approve that appropriation as listed on the agenda. The transcript record of the general-fund amount as read at the meeting is garbled; the official agenda packet should be consulted for the precise figure.

Davenport recommended further steps including adopting a multiyear capital-improvement program, avoiding reliance on one-time revenues to balance recurring budgets, and considering an independent review for major economic-development proposals. Staff and Davenport said they would return as needed with implementation steps and suggested reporting intervals.