The Iredell County Board of Commissioners voted last night to approve the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget, maintaining the county’s property tax rate at 50 cents per $100 valuation while navigating significant state and federal funding shifts, rapid population growth, and increasing service demands.
The adopted $352.1 million General Fund budget reflects the Board’s continued commitment to fiscal conservatism, long-term planning, and protecting essential services without increasing the tax burden on residents.
Budget highlights
- Tax rate maintained: The county tax rate remains at 50 cents, the 28th lowest in North Carolina.
- Education funding:
- $77.79 million in current expense funding for Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mooresville Graded School District, and Mitchell Community College.
- $17.76 million in capital funding for school facilities.
- $29.99 million in education debt service.
- Capital investments:
- $11.75 million for the Courthouse Expansion Project.
- $3.6 million for ambulance replacements.
- $1.79 million to replace emergency dispatch radio consoles.
- Population growth: Iredell County grew 2.8% in one year — more than 5,000 new residents — making it one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina.
- Personnel strategy:
- No new positions funded due to revenue constraints.
- Reclassification of six vacant positions to meet critical needs (including four to deputy sheriff positions).
- Elimination of 19 vacant positions to offset unfunded mandates.
- A 3% pay scale adjustment beginning July 2026.
- Future Capital Reserve Fund: Contribution of $16.3 million following a year of major school construction investments.
- Fire services: All-County Fire tax rate remains at 9 cents, generating an estimated $23.5 million.
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With the adoption of the budget, the board adopted the annual budget ordinance, amended the multi-year capital project ordinances for both the Facility Improvement Fund and the Fairgrounds Project, approved an opioid settlement spending resolution, a resolution to allow the county manager to exempt certain county projects from competitive bidding by allowing internal staff to perform the work, and a resolution to increase the micro-purchase threshold for federal procurement.
“This budget reflects months of careful analysis, collaboration, and tough decision-making,” shared Board Chair Bert Connolly. “Our goal has always been to balance the needs of a rapidly growing county with our responsibility to taxpayers, and I’m proud of the transparent, thoughtful process that brought us here. We remain committed to keeping Iredell County strong, efficient, and responsive to the people we serve.”
