County Commission meetings are held at 7 pm on the first and third Monday of each month in the Patsy H. Sadler room in the courthouse. (Photo by Eleazar Yisrael.)
The first May meeting featured updates from both Pamlico County Schools and The INN at Pamlico. Here’s what we learned.
2026-27 budget request for Pamlico County Schools
A slide from the school district’s presentation to the commissioners. (Courtesy of Denise Altman)
Denise Altman, who acts as finance officer for Pamlico County Schools, brought commissioners up to date on next year’s budget requests.
The state General Assembly has not passed a budget for the current 2025-26 school year. The school district has received preliminary state planning allotments, but the amounts in them could change based on legislation that involves the 2026-27 school year.
The funding request for the 2026-27 school year is lower than the previous year. Altman attributed the cost savings to the consolidated middle school and high school, which will mean lower operational costs and a smaller staff. The consolidated middle and high school should be more efficient to run, which will reduce power costs.
In the absence of a state approved retirement or health plan rate, the school district has projected that the retirement rate will increase from 24.67% to 25.17%. Health insurance costs are expected to increase from $8,500 per employee to $8,905.
The budget also includes a 3% salary increase for teachers.
The school district’s budget also includes utilities and insurance costs until the old middle school building is sold. The Board of Education plans to adopt a resolution stating the building is no longer needed for educational purposes at their meeting on May 18. The district must offer first refusal to the county itself for the purchase. After that, the building will be offered on the open market.
Progress toward housing access with The INN at Pamlico
Jim Yaeger displays an image of the future INN at Pamlico. (Photo by Lara Manetta)
Lorraine Yaeger, the project coordinator from The INN at Pamlico, updated the commissioners on progress on the property.
Organizers with The INN raised $50,000 over a period of 20 months to purchase the property at 211 Main St. Fundraising efforts included tables at community yard sales, bingo nights, and three sold-out galas.
They’ve now cleared brush from the yard and installed a sign.
Jim Yaegar clears brush and debris from the property across from the courthouse at 211 Main St. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Yaeger)
Yaeger says that 60% of women in Pamlico County’s jail have children under 16. Post-incarceration housing like The INN will allow them to stay in the community and keep their families intact.
Members of the community can check out their progress at the INN’s next event is their “Bringin’ It Home” FUNdraiser on Saturday, May 30 at the future home of The INN at Pamlico. Admission is free of charge. There will be food trucks and a bake sale at the fundraiser.
Public comment on campground and tiny home regulations scheduled for June 1
The Pamlico County Planning Board has requested an ordinance regulating campgrounds and tiny homes in the county. The public is invited to participate in a public comment period on June 1.
Any ordinance passed would apply to unincorporated areas of the county. The current plan is that ordinances would apply to parks and campgrounds, as opposed to individuals’ use of campers or tiny homes on their own land. At this time, no municipality in Pamlico County has ordinances regulating camping.
Raises for county employees
Pamlico County policy calls for pay increases for employees who attain specific professional training. Two employees from the tax department hit those milestones before the May 4 meeting. Rhonda Sawyer passed the North Carolina Property Mappers Association and State Certification. Kathy Wall passed the UNC School of Government Property Tax Listing and Assessing Course. The board approved 6% raises for both.
Additional Notes
The following agenda items were passed without discussion:
Approval of budget amendments.
Approval of the register of deeds retention schedule.
Naming the county’s opioid initiative “Pamlico County Serenity Support Services.”
Approval of a purchase order from the Sheriff’s Office.
An increase in the micro-purchase threshold.
Allocation of funds for digital signage in front of the Health Department.
Requests to approve three appointments–TW Harris to the PCC Board, Dr. Sheri Hicks to the Health Advisory Board, and Candy Bohmert to the Senior Services Board–were tabled until the second meeting of the month. The board typically tables all appointment requests for two weeks to allow adequate discussion.
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