Meeting Notes and the Budget

We added basic notes about county government meetings to our coverage. If you have additional story ideas, please send them to reporter and photographer Eleazar “El” Yisrael at (252) 258-9434 or [email protected]

The Pamlico County Board of Commissioners held a regular bimonthly meeting March 3, 2025. Ten members of the public attended. The next regular meeting of the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners will be Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Pamlico County Courthouse Annex.

• Approved: The late application for the Dolphin Point Homeowners Association (HOA), which was caused by “clerical error,” and the hiring of a new tax administrator. Specifically, the application was for Property Tax Exemption from the President of the Dolphin Point HOA. The property is an access to a boat ramp that wasn’t originally included in the tax cycle.

• Approved: Violet Ollison’s appointment to the Regional Aging Advisory Council Committee which is dedicated to advocating to the government for elderly citizens.

• Approved: Melanie Dixon, the Pamlico County Health Director, to serve on the Craven-Pamlico Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The position was previously vacant.

• Approved: The purchase of a 12x12 utility shed for the Recycling Center to serve as a dry place for folks on duty.

• Approved: $171,295 for the purchase of a Mobile Generator for Emergency Management. Purchased using money from a grant.

• The board engaged in closed session for two situations regarding personnel at the register of deeds office. A pay grade of 27 moved to a pay grade of 32, which involves raises and promotions.

From the March 10, 2025, Pamlico County Commissioners Budget Meeting:

• A motion was made to stop all non-emergency and unnecessary purchases for the current government year (July 2024  June 2025).

  • The county is projected by the finance officer to spend $700,000 over revenue made during the current government year. The county won’t be in debt because Pamlico’s savings account has a fund balance to cover it.

  • County Manager Mark Brewington will first assess to determine unnecessary purchases. Then, he will give his recommendations to the commissioners and they will assess

• Pamlico County’s General Fund (GR Cash) or the money that is in the savings account, is $12.6 million, with an additional $1.9 million set aside for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

  • $7 million is in unrestricted funds. The rest of the money is designated to specific uses.

  • $1.9 million is for disaster relief such as hurricanes. (Any amount of money used for disaster recovery can be reimbursed by  the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Counties, however, are responsible to have money “up-front.” The county has $1.9 million from ARPA to spend specifically on disaster recovery, but there’s an option to use more money for disaster recovery, which will be reimbursed by FEMA. Counties are limited to the amount of money they have in their bank account due to their responsibility for the initial amount.)

• The revenue includes taxes collected (property, sales, etc) and revenue from the balance investment. Expenses consist of the cost of facilities and salary across the county.

• Pamlico County’s revenue for this year's governmental cycle/year (July 2024 -June 2025) is $19.6 million, which is $600k more than last year’s revenue

  • The county increased its revenue due to having raised taxes by 2 cent per every $100 of property tax evaluation. This is the first time taxes were increased in a decade in Pamlico. In addition, the jail produced an increased revenue.

• Projected expenses are $20.3 million for the current government year.

• The original budget for this government cycle had a projected $2 million revenue to expenses deficit, however it decreased to a $700k deficit due to budget cuts made by the board of commissioners.

• Income has increased but so has the expenses.

  • Mostly due to increased salaries as a result of the rising cost of living.

  • $800,000 increase in salaries, benefits and other expenses like overtime.

First Draft of upcoming 2026 Governmental budget:

Revenue: $24,193,107

Expenses: $28,688,223

Deficit: $4,495,116

Included Lines:  2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Biggest request from Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) or long term investments in i nfrastructure, facilities, and major equipment:

• $778,000 for Jail

• $1,300,000 for Sheriff

• $10,000 for EMS

• $92,000 for Animal Control

• $89,000 for DSS

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