BUDGET APPROVED
Commissioners OK $560.9M budget; maintain property tax rate
Cabarrus County Commissioners Kenny Wortman, from left, Ian Patrick, Laura Blackwell Lindsey, Jeff Jones and Larry Pittman.
CABARRUS COUNTY
CONCORD — Cabarrus County Commissioners have approved a $560.9 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, maintaining the county's property tax rate at 57.6 cents per $100 of assessed value for the second consecutive year while increasing investments in public safety and employee retention.
The budget, adopted unanimously on Monday, June 15, takes effect July 1 and includes a General Fund budget of $413.6 million. County officials said the spending plan addresses growing service demands driven by rapid population growth without increasing the tax rate. For the owner of a home assessed at the county median value of $361,120, the annual county property tax bill will remain about $2,080.
How it was balanced
The overall budget includes funding across 11 county funds, including public safety, health services, education support, landfill operations and employee benefit programs.
County officials said the adopted budget emerged after staff closed an initial projected deficit of $13.7 million through a combination of revised revenue estimates, spending adjustments, operational efficiencies and reductions in vacant positions.
Among the cost-saving measures were the elimination of six vacant positions and limits on funding increases for county partners. Some operations, including the Landfill Fund and Arena & Events Center Fund, will rely on existing fund balances to maintain balanced budgets.
County growth
The budget comes as Cabarrus County continues to experience significant growth. According to county figures, the population increased by 9.2% between 2020 and 2024, adding nearly 21,000 residents. Officials project another 10.2% increase by 2030.
County leaders said the growing and aging population is increasing demand for both mandated and discretionary county services.
The budget includes continued funding for employee benefits, merit raises, cost-of-living adjustments and longevity pay. County officials also plan a targeted compensation review of positions experiencing high turnover and chronic vacancies.
A focus on public safety
Public safety remains a major focus of the spending plan.
The budget funds 21 new positions in the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, including 16 detention officers needed to staff a new jail housing pod as inmate populations increase. Additional deputy positions will support security needs at the Progress Place behavioral health campus.
Commissioners also approved funding to replace four ambulances and an EMS administrative vehicle that have reached the end of their service lives. The budget incorporates updated EMS cost-recovery measures following a review of service fees.
The county will continue providing operational and capital support to Cabarrus County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Cabarrus Health Alliance.
County officials are also working with local education leaders on a proposed general obligation bond referendum that could appear on the November 2026 ballot. The referendum would help fund major capital projects for both school districts and the community college.
Concern for the future
While officials highlighted the county's ability to maintain the current tax rate, they cautioned that future financial challenges remain.
According to the county's five-year financial outlook, projected budget shortfalls could reach $10.8 million in fiscal year 2027-28 and grow to more than $43 million by fiscal year 2030-31. County leaders cited rising education costs, personnel expenses, service demands and uncertainty surrounding potential state legislation affecting local revenue options.
Officials said future budget planning will depend on evolving service needs and available revenue sources.
Development of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget began earlier this year at the Board of Commissioners' annual retreat and included meetings with county departments and public outreach events in Kannapolis and Mount Pleasant.
The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
