Haywood County commissioners approve FY2026–27 budget, 4–1, after school funding adjustment

Haywood County commissioners voted 4–1 on June 1 to adopt the fiscal year 2026–27 budget ordinance proposed by County Manager Bryant Morehead, who said the recommended package included a 7-cent tax increase and an increase in the schools' allocation.

Morehead told the board the version before them reflected a change since the public hearing: the schools' allocation was increased by the equivalent of one penny, about $2.275 million, with that additional funding coming from the county fund balance. "The budget ordinance you have in front of you is basically the recommended budget ... 7 cent tax increase," Morehead said during his presentation.

The vote followed public comment calling for fuller funding of school needs and a lengthy board discussion about fund balance levels and state uncertainty. Commissioners approved the ordinance after a motion and second; the clerk recorded four votes in favor and one opposed.

Commissioners and school representatives discussed who would carry remaining obligations this year; the schools were asked to consider using roughly $700,000 from their own fund balance to close the gap. County officials emphasized the county's fund balance stood at about $7 million (roughly two and a half months' payroll) and cautioned that committing reserves limits flexibility if state or federal allocations change.

The ordinance now stands adopted and county staff will post the full budget documents online as required. The board signaled willingness to revisit funding in future budget cycles and said it remains open to emergency requests should unexpected needs arise.

Next steps: the county manager will finalize and publish budget documents and begin implementing appropriations under the adopted ordinance.