[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6209180,"mediaKeyId","3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97","parentId",3736443,"title","County Manager Recommends 2.5% COLA; Commissioners Ask for Higher Options and Lapse-Salary Analysis","audioSeconds",406,"startMs",10240000,"endMs",9834000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97&start=10240&end=9834","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97/thumbnail_10240000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209180/Cumberland-County/North-Carolina/County-Manager-Recommends-25-COLA-Commissioners-Ask-for-Higher-Options-and-Lapse-Salary-Analysis","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209180-859f4234d7e6ec3ea034eb75b05893ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770408088&Signature=jW6S10BIRYsYBHKxpyE2blexz--~724b7m6Nu2gsbZPHm6gHYnjAP2bjfpZ5HvcsBNptSzulxWGho6Y-Zm3VxLtReK-ZNu3Fld-TzQPKmbKQnIeyC4h4s~byAHRuaiYsmYiYMwEZT-qnQiG0sLhCHRC-4gWdWVV7zZiH1VSSTsu7U5PzkdO8xbay06cHUo238czWndqvofi4W-9~IdIbHNgKfAPGsH2gQL9wUvYP01SdDDDBjDnA2nlDnjbM6tlhNBk86-bK-rlClHOYzRiA9zNOYkwsqOL-bCUY6F5t5-NAa2MAgQe5q9oBnS7s4xRTiDBrcLe3TPZE6Yxvml3B5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CumberlandCountyNC","date","2025-06-06T00:00:00Z","article","County budget staff recommended a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for county employees in FY26, estimated at approximately $4.2 million and primarily funded by salary savings tied to current vacancies.

\"A 2 and a half percent cost of living adjustment is recommended for the fiscal year 2026, totaling approximately 4,200,000,\" the manager's presentation stated. Commissioners pressed for alternatives, with several urging consideration of a 4% COLA. One commissioner told staff they \"would at least look at doing 4%\" in recognition of rising costs and retention concerns.

Officials discussed how to fund higher increases. Staff cited lapsed-salary (vacancy) savings and available fund balance as potential sources. During the meeting staff reported FY24 lapsed salaries of $9,694,796 and noted FY25 salary lapse projections have historically been several million dollars annually. Commissioners asked for detailed scenarios that would show the cost of 3% and 4% COLA, the impact on the county's insurance and benefits funding, and the effect on fund balance and capital transfers.

Other personnel incentives in the recommended budget included targeted pay increases for detention-center officers and entry-level sheriff’s deputies, and a proposed increase to the tuition-assistance reimbursement cap (to $2,500 for undergraduates and $1,500 for graduate study) within the same $50,000 allocation that historically saw low uptake (average annual use ~13 employees). Staff agreed to return with regional comparator data for COLA, cost estimates for alternate percentages, and options to address reimbursement fronting for employees who cannot pay tuition upfront and then wait for reimbursement.

No final change to the COLA or tuition program was made at the meeting; staff will produce the requested scenarios for the board’s next work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cumberland County FY 2026 Budget Public Hearing June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff recommended a 2.5% COLA for FY26, an increase the manager said would total about $4.2 million and be funded largely by salary-savings from vacancies; commissioners requested scenario analyses for higher raises and alternative funding sources.","taxTitle","Cumberland County, North Carolina","taxId",3861,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6209183,"Commissioners, Schools Debate $11M–$14M Gap; County Manager Cites 43.47% Funding Methodology",967,6223000,7190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97&start=6223&end=7190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97/thumbnail_6223000.jpg","/articles/6209183/Cumberland-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-Schools-Debate-11M14M-Gap-County-Manager-Cites-4347-Funding-Methodology","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209183-83bd514d0d3a72344a95977a3c233e92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437544&Signature=gVJieC492ooNxSFHrL0N9P68VFVsOrKKvw6oIdEGJgIhm91THb~hYtrNf9kMOqmJ7gWdvrrqGoqjJdyh2V~KrlkrXMmGapeA7QZEjaZU5GXH0P4L7~3a1UFqmawvk-L3beSjQ7aDViKkSYKGunE38NfnA9RFqo~O72hY6XNb~Y-iTuvaw4Phb131LBvI~QdGHpxqtJBLV1pnUx2gKuUn9Sn54A67BVIa1p07FF1yDjwGEa1D5g-JQ7XktmFBDJyVlg2Iu5wtiAW-gTmp7FhgGAnDvfwv19~~bA0qyQImBueL3avG-dfNcGppQKb05CgT3380qsv0cIaCtZq73-NAxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County budget staff told the Board of Commissioners the recommended FY26 appropriation for Cumberland County Schools is $91.7 million, calculated using a previously used methodology that allocates 43.47% of projected ad valorem and motor-vehicle tax collections to the school system.

Jay Tolan, associate superintendent for business operations for Cumberland County Schools, told commissioners the district requested roughly $103 million (figures varied in documents) and said that any new county money would go to staff compensation: \"any new money that we receive from you all would go straight to staff,\" Tolan said. School leaders identified teacher and classified supplements as the primary use of additional local funding; they said $11 million to $14 million in new local support would significantly increase supplements and move pay closer to regional peers.

County staff and commissioners discussed mechanics and constraints. Budget staff said the 43.47% allocation originated from earlier mediation and has been used as a practical funding method though it is not a currently binding legal agreement. Staff cautioned that if the county elevates funding outside that formula, it could establish a new baseline that affects future years. County staff noted pending property-value appeals and that the school figure could change after appeals are resolved.

Commissioners asked for scenario modeling. Manager's staff agreed to produce options to bridge the gap at 100% and 50% of the $14 million request without raising the tax rate, as well as a scenario showing the effect of a dedicated 1¢ tax increase earmarked for schools. Commissioners also requested analyses showing the tax impact on an average single-family home and how each scenario would affect the districts’ supplements and taxpayers.

No final appropriation was adopted during the session. Commissioners scheduled follow-up meetings and asked staff for the scenarios and clarifications about the funding formula, appeals and potential uses of fund balance or dedicated tax increases.","County staff recommended a $91.7 million FY26 appropriation for Cumberland County Schools using a formula that allocates 43.47% of local ad valorem and motor-vehicle tax revenue; school officials said the district requested roughly $103–111 million and sought additional local money for teacher and staff supplements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6209188,"Cape Fear Regional Theatre Seeks $3.5M from County for ‘Act 2’ Capital Expansion",409,741000,1150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97&start=741&end=1150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97/thumbnail_741000.jpg","/articles/6209188/Cumberland-County/North-Carolina/Cape-Fear-Regional-Theatre-Seeks-35M-from-County-for-Act-2-Capital-Expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209188-c9d06a33a4b6ab112f0080aee0f39513/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437544&Signature=HMedeMYEUUB0w9JiiKhebHigT86InNmHH7BRMCnXuWec4jFyfIcHjcZJYqYwe65HTLET9Alj73-GCUce5DpyUzlyhUJMf0cD9wGUMFVtyM63S3AjcoLYRnRgSSFWr0ywuLH86tztfLdJHmdwfLzS6BncklU~V6lWJg7Zm5TtKw3UUhzKgNJiHTMXAEc1MkiLbmBvC4IlOA~BwHzWI1nbQ9Akz6BUXWhWYY~wjwG8Sv0FAsEY-L9Wwb15GHLitRhIT7KDUvMTkQtp7zk~uJfXQ5-dNfwWIDfPrs7OK7nfij9GhEwWFvS84GS8DNYKy2RDMWXD1LZHxkxp6a-aMbh74A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cape Fear Regional Theatre leaders told the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners they are requesting a one-time $3.5 million contribution over four years to complete \"Act 2\" of a capital expansion, which they said is already largely funded by private and other public investments.

Mary Kate Burke, artistic director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre, said the group has committed 72% of the funds needed and is asking the county for a final county contribution of $3,500,000 paid over four years (about $875,000 per year). \"This project directly supports your strategic priority of providing cultural and recreational activities,\" Burke said. She noted the theater completed an earlier interior renovation in 2021 funded without public support and said the expansion will be income-generating and carry no ongoing county maintenance responsibilities.

Burke and other speakers detailed the theater’s community reach. Burke said CFRT served more than 62,000 people last year, including about 20,000 children and youth, and that enrollment in classes has grown 89% over five years. Student Lana Drawhorn testified about how CFRT changed her life and cited professional opportunities that followed her training at the theater. \"When you fund this theater, you're not just building a building. You are building the future,\" Burke said.

Speakers asked commissioners to consider the county’s prior supportive actions: letters of support to state and federal representatives and earlier budget-year endorsements from individual commissioners. County staff said the request would be discussed further as part of the broader cultural- and community-funding conversations scheduled later in the budget process.

No formal decision was made at the hearing. Commissioners scheduled community-funding discussions to continue during upcoming budget work sessions where staff said they would provide more detail about capital outlay, grants and other cultural funding lines.","Leaders of Cape Fear Regional Theatre asked commissioners to include a one-time $3.5 million commitment in the FY26 budget to complete a capital 'Act 2' expansion they say will increase seat capacity, educational programming and generate revenue without ongoing county maintenance responsibilities.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6209193,"Nonprofit Communicare Warns Funding Cut, 250% Lease Increase Would Harm Hundreds of Clients",2623,1370000,3993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97&start=1370&end=3993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736443-6df0a833c204dec5fa80f76c590bba97/thumbnail_1370000.jpg","/articles/6209193/Cumberland-County/North-Carolina/Nonprofit-Communicare-Warns-Funding-Cut-250-Lease-Increase-Would-Harm-Hundreds-of-Clients","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209193-2fd4a0fe3a3872db4849208e783ece2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437544&Signature=B6cydgD7aLy41chN6ko3w8q7nU-Jw8aRZ7kx5VIFRQFUE45t5bKwnWUu3o22tVtLTXDvKT~-ljRznp6dQt1hTxaht9YgF0sgJNuUVfM9NlGBi3DOtynpq39gjrDrUV8LjUJvC-Cq-Yc9GvkwvIPgjFMHVd8pYnyi1qK9~~zkbyUG4V5xQBhHorCbjq0AsqlOjWeR32tZS3zH1g1Yw2M4nDgtaty-b-vrFDUIEsKUABvHLDClEIzLonXbEitktgOZrE-RysmsuFZW3~NOtXoMiiowxfZmY80U8ja1b8ak25bk3yxF-C1qHw~dDPA3k4NdoFMn5N3rR9OTBzHhwBYJrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents and partner agencies told the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners they rely on Communicare's behavioral-health services and urged the board to reverse an $86,549 cut to the nonprofit's JCPC allocation and a proposed lease increase that would raise annual rent to $108,705.

Sheila Cuppy, chairwoman of Cumberland County Communicare, said she filed appeals after the JCPC recommendation and asked commissioners to restore funding and reconsider the lease action. \"I am concerned that a $250 lease increase along with an $86,549 reduction in funding is disparate treatment of Communicare at the tune of a $153,244 loss,\" Cuppy said during the public hearing.

Speakers described direct effects they said the cuts would cause. The agency, they said, served 892 clients this year, including 540 youth, and performed 292 adolescent clinical assessments. Sarah Hallock, who spoke for Communicare's programs, told the board the nonprofit is the county's longest-standing JCPC clinical program and \"annually, we always serve 70% of the local JCPC population.\" Several providers and program participants said reductions would force cuts to crisis services, family-based interventions and housing supports.

Multiple clients and former clients gave personal testimony about the agency's role. Roberto Lee Thomas III described being homeless for 20 years before Communicare helped him secure housing and treatment. \"You gotta keep helping them,\" Thomas said, urging the board not to cut support. Other speakers — including representatives from NAMI Cumberland, juvenile-court staff and shelter outreach workers — said cutting Communicare's funding would create systemwide ripple effects, increasing detention referrals, emergency-room use and unmet behavioral-health needs.

Speakers also objected to a board action earlier in May that approved a \"resolution of intent to lease\" that, they said, would increase Communicare's lease by 250%. Several called that inconsistent with a separate, substantially reduced lease the board approved for a different nonprofit three days later. Communicare leaders said no compliance or quality issues justified the JCPC reduction and asked commissioners to publish the lease terms and restore the funding.

County staff did not announce a decision during the public hearing. Commissioners closed the hearing after public comment and moved into a budget work session. Follow-up actions requested by speakers included reconsideration of the JCPC allocation and formal review of the lease terms and the appeals filed with county management.

The public record from the hearing shows extensive public concern about service disruptions if the reductions stand. Commissioners and staff asked for time to review appeals and budget tradeoffs during the work session that followed.","More than a dozen speakers urged Cumberland County commissioners to reinstate Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) funds and to reconsider a proposed 250% lease increase for Communicare, citing potential loss of services for hundreds of clients, including youth and people experiencing homelessness or mental illness.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County Manager Recommends 2.5% COLA; Commissioners Ask for Higher Options and Lapse-Salary Analysis

Commissioners, Schools Debate $11M–$14M Gap; County Manager Cites 43.47% Funding Methodology

Cape Fear Regional Theatre Seeks $3.5M from County for ‘Act 2’ Capital Expansion

Nonprofit Communicare Warns Funding Cut, 250% Lease Increase Would Harm Hundreds of Clients