[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6541891,"mediaKeyId","5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74","parentId",5021273,"title","Sampson County leaders weigh 6¢ property tax proposal, sales tax referendum and timeline for final vote","audioSeconds",11661,"startMs",144000,"endMs",11805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74&start=144&end=11805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74/thumbnail_144000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541891/Sampson-County/North-Carolina/Sampson-County-leaders-weigh-6-property-tax-proposal-sales-tax-referendum-and-timeline-for-final-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541891-679bf2ae2986c331cb62f849f28a180b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554811&Signature=MIO28vPiRiZ~sYinHP9TzxmNfgCok~uorD~Lb~H4Q8d1IDYhY0XnQsVfx-B9SgNM55EOglWdAuR0QY24g4AUYMcX~Qsn7L-VB9WkwIdIov4UbBLEkn5oTsTSwwojm8niwCyYCyZDAPr54AOxbb83BlvWYxdFAD-Vam3EN0JMCHia4YhRPiljmWo7h0KSkF7pePM5pSoi1yf8~xrmSzynH4umFoItxqCD~JTCmruMHZpyQxFhkBgLkqzkub84fKR1DcOCparjmnnosiOSpY9w5fI2sXMkv6BDMFBYZMuK20TgGFmB4a5tk1INQ9Ioe16TAQuB44V0Y9RMOucIHKKhnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sampson County","date","2025-06-14T00:54:13Z","article","County Manager Hudson recommended a proposed 6¢ increase in the county property tax rate to cover near-term needs including school operating funds, sheriff vehicle and ambulance replacements and county building repairs, and urged commissioners to consider a sales-tax referendum to help shoulder long-term school and capital costs.

Hudson said the 6¢ package includes 2¢ for public education current expense, 1¢ to a county capital reserve, a half-cent for Sampson Community College ongoing maintenance and the remainder to support public safety vehicle replacements. “I didn’t propose 6¢ lightly,” Hudson said, adding the figure was chosen to address several discrete needs rather than as a round number.

Why it matters: Hudson told the board the county is balancing competing options—cuts, a tax increase and use of fund balance—and currently estimates a fund balance of about $2,627,000 on July 1. The manager said some operating savings will be realized from positions that remain vacant but warned the amount is uncertain.

Key details:
- The proposed 6¢ breakdown identified in the budget materials: 2¢ for school current expense; 1¢ to county capital reserve; 0.5¢ to Sampson Community College for ongoing maintenance; the remainder toward ambulances, sheriff patrol vehicles and county building capital needs including roofs and HVAC systems.
- Hudson said replacing ambulances can take roughly 18 months; the county is seeking a demo model to avoid the wait for at least one ambulance.
- Each penny of the tax rate was presented as equivalent to about $704,000 in recurring revenue; the manager estimated roughly $600,000 of new growth revenue might be available without a rate increase.

Sales tax referral: Hudson explained a local sales tax (Article 46-style local option) could generate roughly $3.8 million at a half-cent rate and suggested the board consider pairing or sequencing a sales-tax referendum with any property tax action. He warned that if the county adopted a full 6¢ and then voters rejected a later sales tax, the county might be forced to return to property-tax increases the following year.

Board schedule and next steps: Commissioners agreed on this calendar for the budget decision:
- Public hearing: Monday at 6 p.m. (public hearing on the proposed budget)
- Direction session: Wednesday at 1 p.m. (reconvene to give staff direction)
- Final vote / adoption: Friday at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ conference room
The manager and finance staff said there is no legal deadline before June 30, but the board preferred to listen to the public Monday and allow the comments to “marinate” before finalizing the budget.

What commissioners said: Commissioners repeatedly said they want transparency for residents and singled out items they view as least-cuttable—school funding, ambulances and patrol cars, and community-college maintenance. Several commissioners said they prefer not to raise property taxes two years in a row and expressed interest in pairing a sales-tax referendum with any property-tax movement.

Context and constraints: The presentation emphasized that some cost pressures (school requests, building maintenance, vehicle replacement lead times) are not discretionary and that the budget reflects prior reductions in training and COLA. The manager suggested developing a written resolution or guidance about the board’s intentions for the next fiscal year to give the incoming county manager direction going into FY 2027.

Ending: The board did not adopt a final budget on-site and directed staff to post the public hearing and follow the agreed schedule, with a goal of returning with a formal budget ordinance after the Wednesday direction session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sampson County Board of Commissioners Budget Workshop June 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County Manager Hudson laid out a proposed 6¢ property tax increase—including 2¢ for school operating expense, 1¢ to county capital reserve and a half-cent for community college maintenance—and urged commissioners to consider pairing a future local sales-tax referendum to reduce pressure on property taxes.","taxTitle","Sampson County, North Carolina","taxId",61429,"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},6541870,"History museum remains underfunded in draft budget; commissioners opt to await public hearing",1242,1890000,3132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74&start=1890&end=3132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74/thumbnail_1890000.jpg","/articles/6541870/Sampson-County/North-Carolina/History-museum-remains-underfunded-in-draft-budget-commissioners-opt-to-await-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541870-0df78ac47348df1cbde716dab7de155f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554811&Signature=GPI3p1RIVzylNQ4kRIHDlZcK0m6oYY2ztv70aZcPW3A6QXXWYNufoxSV45JziQdBCAdFhCDYzIdpovufxtnhqqBBL3YnkiwCTJ-~Jkej7jYZyDCXroYExSiAXEhn8gRGMjT0sLZdGpAmTqqHp7TFUKA1vMBjkpE2Hpp~ThpXmmVDagv9WZUAUTj3VxrnVNdmlUJM8VPxT2dxrdUvS2KM9u6TgA2THZ3D3wWMWjW9Z4nhiIzuiJ7nEa3rpvZhtjHULr7FOxFHQYG9fmJs0KToQy6WmdcTxFehHeywDwMgaf~NbcBu55CcAnTGXaZ8eag1BE5lgdxAuLUrr3x94rs2Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners and staff discussed recent public comments about the Sampson County History Museum’s proposed allocation. Museum representatives had requested $76,598 for operations; the budget currently includes $20,000. County finance staff and commissioners noted the museum is an outside agency (not a county department) and not mandated, and the board debated whether to restore additional funding now or wait to hear public comment at the scheduled Monday hearing.

Points raised in the discussion:
- Finance staff said the museum’s operating expenses included a reported annual power bill of roughly $14,000 and that the city had provided support for an adjacent building renovation.
- Commissioners said they were receiving more public feedback about the museum’s cuts than about the tax increase and that public hearings provide a chance for residents to make their case directly.
- Several board members expressed sympathy for the museum and suggested the option of partial restoration, coupled with guidance that the museum pursue grants and other earned revenues to reduce reliance on county operating support.

Board direction: Commissioners said they prefer to wait for public hearing testimony Monday night and to consider the museum’s future funding after hearing from residents, rather than making a pre‑hearing change.

Ending: The museum’s funding level remained at $20,000 in the draft; commissioners asked staff to be ready to consider restoration amounts after the public hearing and to include that potential amendment in the Wednesday/Friday process.","The Sampson County History Museum requested $76,598 but the draft budget currently includes $20,000; commissioners discussed delaying further action until public testimony at the upcoming hearing before deciding whether to restore additional funds.",{"_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},6541876,"School districts and college press for predictable capital funding; board hears trustees and superintendents",732,5228000,5960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74&start=5228&end=5960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74/thumbnail_5228000.jpg","/articles/6541876/Sampson-County/North-Carolina/School-districts-and-college-press-for-predictable-capital-funding-board-hears-trustees-and-superintendents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541876-8e35cb19ae8b0e9dd6ab747c244a03ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554811&Signature=jSWX-yQRaVObGJpfmxyh~-0Uy4lVhaHKCA2SfRMgGkDcWcEiiqLjUjcfRylhUD-RcOQEXaK-zr65K2f6wWVu6E6oJ3LzvxLOA0F5wkWYBL1cIHK~OA30MbvtggkI7XbDunSCBu5RDmc4ByRCjYhSG4GWhgkJzoQpK9qjfbq~I-WP4MGhpho2anQmo3ZrG40gRj23aEeHfRXTyzGMw9ZoOFVSti0AlIOIrIqkpl9j8SmnkOxXRONO6cPOV7lSAK9h18DUgAnZif1L99jTT4vx~EaZWzjVYqg7UUnWXt33KLaoMT~KK-3~zhpa0qluKpSs6Z-9jIZdM5wSh-~AdnUTHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees and superintendents from the county’s two school systems and leaders from Sampson Community College presented budget priorities and urged predictable, sustained capital support from the county.

School leaders said most school facilities are old—many exceeding 50 years—and identified roofing and skylight repairs and other maintenance needs as critical. Clinton City Schools and Sampson County Schools described ongoing facility work, noted increasing operational costs as the college and districts expand, and asked the board to preserve a proposed half‑cent allocation for school capital (described during the manager’s presentation as a contribution to school capital and to the capital reserve).

Sampson Community College trustees and leadership said a half‑cent capital outlay would create a modest but reliable stream for facility needs and made clear they would like the relationship and expectations memorialized. Dr. Charlene (as referenced in the meeting) and community college representatives asked that a short paragraph be added to the commissioners’ budget ordinance to clarify recurring support and the ability to request capital-reserve funds for special projects (for example, a chiller replacement or other urgent facility repairs).

What they asked for:
- Continued accrualability of capital-outlay dollars (allowing unspent amounts to carry forward for larger projects).
- Reasonable operational flexibility for colleges and schools within the budget appropriation, with the understanding that construction projects would still be submitted for prior approval.
- A written, memorialized understanding (or paragraph in the budget ordinance) describing the county’s capital support approach so the incoming county manager and future boards have clarity.

Board and staff response: County staff suggested the quickest way to memorialize a commitment would be to include specific language in the budget ordinance; commissioners asked the colleges and schools to submit a short paragraph for insertion.

Ending: School and college leaders thanked the board for the proposed capital half‑cent and asked for the administrative step—language in the budget ordinance—to codify the understanding going forward.","Representatives from the county’s two K‑12 systems and Sampson Community College asked the commissioners to preserve a half‑cent capital outlay for schools and affirmed the benefit of a multi‑year funding understanding; leaders asked the board to memorialize commitments in the budget ordinance.",{"_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},6541881,"Private donations restore library hours; library director to add limited-term part‑time staff",9714,40000,9754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74&start=40&end=9754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74/thumbnail_40000.jpg","/articles/6541881/Sampson-County/North-Carolina/Private-donations-restore-library-hours-library-director-to-add-limited-term-parttime-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541881-ac87a24178e0187b161911bc23390302/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554811&Signature=C4bBgcMXQo4RUwZREE-FYlWIfET86aIxi2xZlrCSd0d6NdaXTR0CnIzeEGX2UwkL3gvVfsleThnUUeQBl26iszbfvyqujJgAXj2U7UVw-zjM2OK142Bh-nEk-I2DroicfANSaycm0v6GKjMAN1SoHpcZJ9iDMr5qXZ5OXdatk3lNuePzbAtTvJydOEfX-nl0eyZ9LVEjEZJKs9juVHo8e1BlWJi-noZu94jk6e97BjtzFgPTPXXLZx1UzrL4I850ismS3lUmeGuxBe0okZ8x47l~Y0krKUWlcK~KaVtVGVYN02Ym~9oS2vXraICc6kxN7VFMDqoIeavoPHhPAo~czQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Library supporters pledged private funds that county staff said will restore branch hours that had been cut in recent budget planning. The library director told commissioners a $7,000 pledge (identified in the meeting as coming from a donor named Tommy) should allow the library system to return to pre-cut hours for the short term but that staff scheduling requires adding two to three part‑time temporary hires so hours can be covered.

Kelsey Edwards, identified in the meeting as library director, explained the library system usually manages part‑time employees to keep their hours under a county part‑time cap (about 950 hours per year) to avoid benefits. After an earlier vacancy the library was managing by adjusting schedules; the director said the donation will allow the library to bring on additional limited-term part‑time staff so no single worker would exceed the allowable hours and so service levels can be restored through June 30.

Caveats from staff and commissioners:
- The hires were described as temporary and would be funded through private donations for the remainder of the fiscal year; library staffing beyond FY27 will depend on funding and possibly on future fundraising or budget decisions.
- Commissioners asked the library to track usage, Wi‑Fi and computer sessions and other measures of branch activity to show community need and help make a case for ongoing support.

Board direction and next steps: Commissioners agreed the donations should be honored and directed staff to proceed with temporary hires that fit within the donation constraints; the board asked library leadership to pursue local outreach and partnerships (including town leaders) to grow library use and revenue.

Ending: The library director will coordinate with HR and finance to move forward with temporary hires and report back if more sustained funding is needed.","Donors pledged roughly $7,000 to restore hours at Newton (Newton Bridal?) Library and county staff agreed to hire two to three temporary part‑time employees to cover those hours through June 30; the hires are time-limited and contingent on continued funding beyond the fiscal year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541886,"Commissioners set aside training funds, move $800 for deeds and earmark a special training reserve",1171,1673000,2844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74&start=1673&end=2844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021273-3399dddb04fbb68ee4896f8fc8975e74/thumbnail_1673000.jpg","/articles/6541886/Sampson-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-set-aside-training-funds-move-800-for-deeds-and-earmark-a-special-training-reserve","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541886-4c3fb6a5b914ba0768c586a6fc9e1d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554811&Signature=BwlGoVFWgbRIjl3TInR--Zx6opOG7XT-IAVT~nXp-rDbw4vvspN7NAwtfA0W8fqw81VpkrY6q6QSpMJVLaRcpXIrytGWprt9JttTZyRMpc1aVHFW60El~zXRy5uSJ3e4qkwN5obH~43TeVgeari9sdfiHpowTvdkEpWWJs5o5DPhbDCXoT~l6pB1ZsOY0I1DFIi4N6Y8pAxVGNG6krtxBAVIb3t0fqnmfII0PXolFHy90hid5TD~YHRjHxLK4ptFcfMcDPqpEAq1L99r2nW1UO1cRkzsQAg7lv0tvFMZrYiNYYSd7Uwt-7nIEHzb2ZuMo5kb~9R9IgoiJ58tl-izIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board identified roughly $59,489 in corrections to the draft budget after staff reviewed typographical and line-item errors. Commissioners agreed to use part of that corrected total to restore some employee training funds and to meet a short, specific request in the Register of Deeds office.

Finance staff reported the net corrections put the budget “$59,489 to the good.” Commissioners directed that $800 be moved to the Register of Deeds to fund a retro deeds line item and allocated $30,000 to Human Resources to fund leadership training and other prioritized staff development. The remaining $28,068.89 would be placed in an administration “special projects” training fund to be used at the incoming county manager’s discretion for department training needs.

Why it matters: Commissioners and the county manager framed the funding move as a way to retain critical staff training—especially given the county’s stated concern about a comparatively youthful workforce and staff with less than five years’ service in many departments.

Details and conditions:
- Commissioners specified the $30,000 training allocation be managed through Human Resources and used to send two employees annually to the Municipal and County Administration School as a priority, plus other leadership and mandatory training as approved.
- The $800 transfer to the Register of Deeds was presented as a one-time, limited-term action so staff in that office would not have to pay travel or certification costs out of pocket.
- The $28,068.89 remainder was designated as a manager-controlled special fund earmarked for training and similar needs; the manager will report back on use.

Board discussion emphasized that most departmental reductions had already been made and the board wanted to avoid “backing up” on cuts that had been necessary; when funds could reasonably be restored, they suggested prioritizing employee training and certification for critical service areas.

Ending: The board agreed to the reallocation by consensus and instructed finance staff to reflect these adjustments in the budget documents for the public hearing and follow-up sessions.","After reviewing small budget corrections that freed about $59,489, commissioners agreed to transfer $800 to the register of deeds, allocate $30,000 to HR training, and place the remaining $28,068.89 in a manager-controlled special training fund for FY27.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sampson County leaders weigh 6¢ property tax proposal, sales tax referendum and timeline for final vote

History museum remains underfunded in draft budget; commissioners opt to await public hearing

School districts and college press for predictable capital funding; board hears trustees and superintendents

Private donations restore library hours; library director to add limited-term part‑time staff

Commissioners set aside training funds, move $800 for deeds and earmark a special training reserve