AGENDA DATE: 5/7/2025
TITLE:
Title
Adoption of Calendar Year 2025 Tax Rates, Fiscal Year (FY) 26 Budget, FY 26 Pay Scales, Borrowing Resolution, FY 26-30 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), and Appropriation of the FY 26 Budget
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request adoption of Calendar Year 2025 tax rates, Fiscal Year (FY) 26 Budget, FY 26 pay scales, borrowing resolution, FY 26-30 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), and appropriation of the FY 26 Budget
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Herrick, Sumner, Bowman, Davidson, Vinzant, Mitchell, Unsworth, Rice
PRESENTER (S): Andy Bowman
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: At the May 7, 2025 Board meeting, staff will ask the Board to consider the following items:
1) Adoption of the Resolution to Set Calendar Year 2025 Tax Rates: The Board held public hearings on the proposed 2025 calendar year real estate and personal property tax rates on April 30, 2025. The 2025 calendar year real estate and personal property tax rates are for the year beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.
2) Adoption of the FY 26 Operating and Capital Budget: The Board held a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) Proposed Budget on April 23, 2025. The budget presented for adoption includes the Board’s FY 26 Proposed Budget, technical adjustments recommended by the County Executive, and Board of Supervisors amendments, and is for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
3) Adoption of the Resolution to Set FY 26 Pay Scales: County Government maintains a Classified Employee pay scale and separate Public Safety pay scales for the Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Fire Rescue.
4) Adoption of the Annual Resolution of Appropriations: To provide the authority from the Board to spend these funds, the Board’s adoption of an Annual Resolution of Appropriations for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2026 is required.
5) Adoption of the Resolution of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures with Proceeds of a Borrowing: In addition, the Board’s adoption of a Resolution of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures with Proceeds of a Borrowing is required to provide the County with the authority to use bond proceeds to reimburse capital program expenditures for the specified projects.
6) Adoption of the FY 26 - 30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): This reflects the adopted FY 26 Capital Budget plus the out years of the plan, FY 27 - FY 30, reviewed with the Board of Supervisors during the budget development process. FY 27 - 30 will inform future long-range financial planning and are not requested for appropriation.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission - To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all community members through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION:
1) Adoption of the Resolution to Set Calendar Year 2025 Tax Rates: The FY 26 budget is based on a real estate tax rate of $0.894 per $100 of assessed valuation (increased from $0.854 per assessed valuation) and a personal property tax rate of $4.28 per $100 of assessed valuation, (increased from $3.96 per $100 of assessed valuation), as set forth in Attachment A. The 2025 calendar year tax rates are for the year beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.
2) Adoption of the FY 26 Operating and Capital Budget: The FY 26 Budget for the Board’s approval is detailed in Attachment B and is based on the FY 26 Proposed Budget plus the adjustments detailed below:
Board of Supervisors Adjustments
All amounts in this executive summary and attachments reflect budget decisions made through the April 7, 2025 budget work session. Adjustments made during subsequent meetings will be made within the attached resolution prior to adoption and reviewed as part of the staff presentation on May 7, 2025.
County Executive Recommended Adjustments
At the request of Public Schools’ staff, the County Executive recommends that the $6,219,994 one-time transfer to the Public Schools for the Health Fund be made in FY 25. This will reduce the FY 26 budget by this amount. An FY 25 appropriation will come to the Board in June 2025. This is only a change in timing, not a change in the amount or intent of this funding.
Public Schools Adjustments
All amounts in this executive summary and attachments reflect budget decisions made through the April 7, 2025 work session. Further changes were presented to the School Board on April 10, 2025 and April 24, 2025. Adjustments recommended during those meetings will be made within the attached Resolution prior to adoption and reviewed as part of the staff presentation on May 7, 2025. The School Board will adopt a final budget on May 8, 2025.
3) Adoption of the Resolution to Set FY 26 Pay Scales
This resolution (Attachment C) is to adopt the FY 26 Pay Scales. The Classified and Public Safety pay scales will be effective as of July 1, 2025 for all County employees.
4) Adoption of the Annual Resolution of Appropriations
The Resolution of Appropriations appropriates the total County Budget, including both County government and Public School operating and capital funds, Public School special revenue funds, and other County government funds appropriations in a single resolution (Attachment D). The Annual Resolution includes the following:
Board of Supervisors Adjustments
All amounts in this executive summary and attachments reflect budget decisions made through the April 7, 2025 work session. Adjustments made during subsequent meetings will be made within the attached Resolution prior to adoption and reviewed as part of the staff presentation on May 7, 2025.
Public Schools Adjustments
All amounts in this executive summary and attachments reflect budget decisions made through the April 7, 2025 work session. The School Board held budget work sessions on April 10, 2025 and April 24, 2025. Adjustments made during those meetings will be made within the attached Resolution prior to adoption and reviewed as part of the staff presentation on May 7, 2025.
County Executive Authority
The appropriation resolution authorizes the County Executive to do the following, with all such transfers or distributions reported to the Board of Supervisors as part of the County’s quarterly financial report, in accordance with current practice:
A) administratively approve budget transfers of unencumbered funds of up to $500,000.00 per fund in the fiscal year from one classification, department, or project to another within the same fund;
B) allocate funding between the below-identified classifications and the appropriate budget line-items for expenditure:
Expenditure Classifications Eligible for Transfer Under this Resolution:
General Fund - Business Process Optimization Reserve
- Climate Action Pool
- Reserve for Contingencies
- Salary and Benefits Reserve - Efficiencies and Other Savings
Capital Funds
- Advancing Strategic Priorities Reserve in CIP
- Transportation Leveraging Fund
C) allocate salary lapse between the non-departmental lapse budget and the appropriate budget line-items;
D) administratively approve the carry-forward of outstanding grants and capital projects and programs from year to year;
E) close out Capital projects and transfer any unencumbered residual funds to the Capital Improvement Fund fund balance;
F) close out grant funds; including the transfer of any unencumbered residual funds to the appropriate fund’s fund balance.
G) administratively approve the carry-forward of outstanding balances up to $17,000,000 for estimated encumbered purchase orders.
5) Adoption of the Resolution of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures with Proceeds of a Borrowing: The Resolution of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures with Proceeds of a Borrowing, Attachment E, allows the County to use bond proceeds to reimburse the County for capital program expenditures.
6) Adoption of the FY 26 - 30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Attachment F: All amounts in the executive summary and attachments reflect budget decisions made through the April 7, 2025 work session. Adjustments made during subsequent meetings will be made within the attached resolution prior to adoption and reviewed as part of the staff presentation on May 7, 2025.
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of the budget, tax rates, and related ordinances by the Board will establish the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets and Calendar Year 2025 tax rates and provide the authority from the Board to spend funds included in the budget. For the adoption of the Capital Improvement Plan, FY 27 - 30 will inform future long-range financial planning and are not requested for appropriation.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board:
1) Adopt the attached Resolution to Set Calendar Year 2025 Tax Rates (Attachment A);
2) Adopt the attached FY 26 Budget Resolution approving the FY 26 Budget as recommended by the County Executive and amended by the Board of Supervisors (Attachment B);
3) Adopt the attached Resolution to Set FY 26 Pay Scales (Attachment C);
4) Adopt the attached Annual Resolution of Appropriations (Attachment D);
5) Adopt the attached Resolution of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures with Proceeds of a Borrowing (Attachment E); and
6) Adopt the FY 26 - 30 Capital Improvement Plan (Attachment F).
If adjustments are desired during the meeting, changes will be made within the attached Resolutions prior to adoption.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Resolution to Set Calendar Year 2025 Tax Rates
B - Resolution to Adopt the FY 26 Operating and Capital Budget
C - Resolution to Set the FY 26 Salary Scales
D - Annual Resolution of Appropriations
E - Borrowing Resolution
F - Resolution to Adopt the FY 26 - 30 Capital Improvement Plan