Recommended Budget
The Recommended Budget was presented to the board on May 20 and a public hearing on the budget was held Monday, June 3. View the presentation slides here.
The Board of Commissioners approved the recommended budget with a few changes on June 17, which can be viewed in the Adopted Budget panel above.
Here are a few highlights of what is included in the FY19-20 Recommended Budget:
- No tax increase, making it three years in a row that the county has either reduced or maintained the tax rate.
- Increased funding for New Hanover County Schools, to include $2,900 per pupil (a $100 increase per student over last year) and $3.7 million in capital; for a total of $116.2 million to support public schools, which is a 6.9% increase in funding from last year.
- Transitions the responsibility of the Forensic Lab to New Hanover County from the City of Wilmington, with a 60/40 cost-sharing arrangement with the city.
- Funds more than $3.3 million in strategic economic development initiatives that will encourage private investment, bring more diverse and higher-wage jobs, and enhance quality of life.
- Invests in workforce housing in partnership with the City of Wilmington, including $45,000 for a workforce housing study.
- Supports 29 human services community partners, as recommended by the Non-County Agency Funding Committee, for a total of $977,000.
- Includes debt service payments for the construction of the Healing Place substance use treatment center.
- Maintains the fire services tax rate for residents in the unincorporated county at 7.75 cents and also keeps the landfill tip fee at $48 per ton.
- Provides a market and merit salary increase for all eligible county employees.