The latest budget features no change to the County’s property tax rate and continues to support education, public safety, elections, health and human services, capital needs, and other critical funding areas for a growing county.
MEDIA RELEASE
BOLIVIA, N.C. – The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (FY25) budget on Monday, June 17, 2024. This budget will guide Brunswick County’s operations and services from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The approved budget for all funds totals $392,024,406, an increase of 12.8% compared to the FY24 budget. However, property owners will see no changes to their current county property tax rate of 34.20 cents in FY25, which was the fifth-lowest property tax rate out of 100 counties in North Carolina in FY24.
A commitment to maintaining a low tax rate, a projected 4.22% increase in property tax value compared to the prior year, and strong collection rates all contributed to the County’s ability to present a budget with a responsible and realistic tax rate.
The approved FY25 budget focuses on several critical funding areas to meet the needs of one of the fastest growing counties in the state and country. These areas include affordable and advanced water treatment, education, employee retention and recruitment, mental health and substance abuse support, elections, economic development, and providing adequate staffing and equipment for the protection of the public and first responders.
FY25 Budget Key Points
- Property Taxes: No changes to the property tax (ad valorem) rate of 34.20 cents
- Residential Utilities: No changes to retail (residential) water and wastewater rates for the third fiscal year in a row
- Brunswick County Schools: Increase of $2 million (3.6%) to the operating budget per funding agreement from growth in ad valorem taxes and a $700,000 increase (6.4%) from local option sales taxes per statute
- Brunswick Community College: Budget increased by 14.5% compared to FY24 to support existing programs and $350,000 to the Foundation Grant for tuition assistance
- Brunswick Senior Resources: Budget increased by 9% compared to FY24 for program support at five senior centers, generator installation at Calabash Senior Center, and a new Nutrition Site at the Ash Waccamaw Multi-use Building (currently under construction)
- Board of Elections: Budget increased by 17.5% compared to FY24 to add one full-time employee, one rover, increase staffing for outreach events, add early voting site compared to the primary, and other costs related to technology, small equipment, travel, and training
- Capital Improvement Plan: Construction of an Animal Protection Services Adoption Center for the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and a combined Emergency Operations Center and Health and Human Services building
On the Horizon for FY25
Here is a select list of other anticipated projects and initiatives funded in the FY25 budget and/or that are expected to occur at some point during the fiscal year. Some of these items are supported by the County’s American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds or are eligible for reimbursements from the County’s opioid settlement funds as approved by the Board of Commissioners.
- Community Paramedicine Program: Budgeted funds for two paramedics, equipment, and other operating costs, with expected eligible reimbursement of $197,000 from opioid settlement funds
- Emergency Medical Services: Funding for eight additional paramedics ($571,000) to provide 24 hours of additional coverage and $1.2 million for two replacement ambulances and two additional ambulances
- Veterans Services: Funding for an additional Veterans Service Officer position ($72,000)
- Library: Delivery of Brunswick County’s Bookmobile (funded with ARPA funds), funding for an additional Bookmobile Librarian and Library Assistant to begin mid-year; $16,000 increase for part-time Library staff; total Library budget of $213,000 for books
- Parks and Recreation: Additional $34,000 for new youth programs and a $21,000 increase for ongoing athletics
- Nonprofit Contracted Services: Continued support for contracted services: Brunswick Family Assistance ($172,000), Hope Harbor ($90,000), Coastal Horizons ($35,000), and Providence Home ($35,000)
- Brunswick Partnership for Housing: Increase of $3,500 for a total of $53,500 for the homeless coalition initiative
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Support: Continued support for the following organizations: Trillium ($250,000 for substance abuse and mental health services), The Healing Place ($482,000 for 20 beds; opioid settlement fund eligible expected reimbursement is $193,000 (40%)), and Christian Recovery Centers Inc. ($274,000 for substance abuse treatment programs; opioid settlement fund eligible expected reimbursement is $110,000 (40%))
Fee Changes in FY25
The FY25 budget included some changes to certain fees. Full details can be found in the budget document.
- Changes to some water and wastewater fees and wastewater rates for wholesale customers to cover the cost to provide quality services
- Changes to some EMS, Health Services, Fire Inspections, and Planning and Community Enforcement fees to reflect the cost to provide service and/or allowable billable rates from third-party vendors
- Changes to water and wastewater system development fees (SDF) to cover necessary infrastructure improvements and expansions necessary to support our growing county (these fee changes would not impact existing Brunswick County water and wastewater customers)
Community members can review the full FY25 approved budget document on Brunswick County’s Budget Documents webpage at brunswickcountync.gov/budget.
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