Beaufort County budget presentation highlights teacher pay, school funding and a proposed transportation sales‑tax referendum

Beaufort County staff on May 18 reviewed the administration’s proposed FY2027 budget and county finance staff and school‑district leaders walked the committee through the school budget and a draft transportation sales‑tax ordinance proposed for a November referendum.

County budget: County Administrator and finance staff presented a $23.34 million county general‑fund package aimed at keeping the mill rate neutral at 59.5 mills while funding 29 recommended new general‑fund positions, a four‑year CIP and vehicle/equipment requests. Staff emphasized personnel priorities, modest cola and merit assumptions (1%/2%), and a multi‑year CIP. Committee members debated outside‑agency allocations and potential reallocation of less time‑sensitive items into capital projects.

School budget: Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez and CFO Tanya Crosby presented a $395.3 million FY2027 proposed school budget that does not seek a millage increase. The district proposed a $2,500 flat increase for starting teachers (raising the county’s starting teacher pay to remain among the state’s highest) and a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for classified staff plus step increases. The school presentation underscored state revenue volatility, increased contract costs, and ongoing mandates that have driven local reliance on property tax revenues.

Transportation sales‑tax referendum: Staff proposed an ordinance to place a transportation sales‑tax question on the November ballot modeled on an earlier TAC project list. The draft program was presented as an $780 million package over a nominal eight‑year collection period; staff also explained a technical change in state law that can expand the taxable base to include “unprepared food” (groceries) and noted that excluding groceries would reduce projected receipts and likely lengthen the collection period by roughly one year.

Committee discussion focused on transparency, project prioritization (paving, resurfacing, sidewalk/trail projects, and major corridor work), oversight arrangements (a citizen oversight committee was proposed), and the mechanics of bond issuance. The committee directed staff to present a draft ordinance to county council and discussed the option of removing unprepared food from the taxable base and extending the program by one year to reach the same program total.

What this means: The budget presentations left the budget broadly balanced for the county and the school district at the current millage assumptions, while the possible transportation referendum would accelerate a multiyear capital program if voters approve the measure. The school district asked the county to be mindful of impacts to school revenue if local tax bases or statutory distributions change.

Speakers: County Administrator, Missandra Novak (Finance Director), Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, Tanya Crosby (CFO, Beaufort County School District).

Next steps: The county committee advanced the transportation sales‑tax ordinance to county council for first reading with staff direction to refine the ballot language and consider exclusions (including unprepared food) and the program term.