Cabarrus commissioners seek continued dialogue on school funding
Published on April 30, 2026
The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners is providing an update on the Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27) budget process and potential impacts on local school funding.
The board recently became aware of proposed reductions to the Cabarrus County Schools budget that included impacts to student-centered programs.
While the County does not make allocation decisions on behalf of the school system, commissioners said they understand and appreciate the challenges of budget planning.
“Budget planning is a complex and often difficult process,” said Board Chair Laura Lindsey. “It requires a balance of responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and the significant needs of our community, including our schools.”
At the start of the FY27 budget process, Cabarrus County faced a $13.7 million deficit. Through a disciplined and focused effort, County staff successfully closed the gap while maintaining growth projections that allow the current tax rate to remain unchanged.
As part of the long-term FY27 budget planning process, the County asked its education partners to operate within a projected growth rate of 4.5%. That expectation was communicated consistently over the past year, including during FY26 budget discussions.
“Last year, the County provided a 12% increase in school funding with the understanding the upcoming fiscal year growth would be more limited,” Lindsey said. “Commissioners asked for careful consideration in their allocations as we don’t make or prioritize decisions for them.”
The FY27 Proposed Budget continues to provide strong support for local schools, including sustained operational funding and resources to address critical deferred maintenance needs. In recent years, education has consistently accounted for about one-third of the County’s General Fund budget.
Cabarrus County’s total contributions to local school systems over the past five years are as follows:
- FY23: Operations – $89.7 million; Debt Service – $41.6 million; Capital – $10.4 million
- FY24: Operations – $98.1 million; Debt Service – $38.7 million; Capital – $11.3 million
- FY25: Operations – $109.1 million; Debt Service – $37.8 million; Capital – $15.7 million
- FY26: Operations – $123 million; Debt Service – $42.7 million; Capital – $19.2 million
- FY27 (Proposed): Operations – $128.4 million; Debt Service – $44.3 million; Capital – $22.5 million
For FY27, commissioners also reaffirmed their commitment to educators through approval of $6 million in salary increases for locally funded staff and teachers. Five million of that is allocated for Cabarrus County Schools. Those funds are contingent on adoption of a state budget that provides increases to state-funded school positions. The $6 million is in addition to more than $190 million included in the FY27 Proposed Budget for local education operations, debt service and capital needs.
“Students represent our future, and teachers are essential to that mission,” Lindsey said. “Achieving success requires shared responsibility and collaboration. Commissioners look forward to productive discussions with the Cabarrus County School Board to re-focus the inherent budget constraints on supporting students and teachers.”
In addition to schools, the Board of Commissioners must balance the needs of all departments, including public safety areas such as the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Medical Services, as well as state-mandated departments like Social Services.
The FY27 Recommended Budget is scheduled for presentation at the May 18 Regular Meeting. A public hearing will be held on June 1.
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