News

County manager presents no-new-taxes budget of $227 million

By Bill Moss, Published: May 4, 2026

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners has committed $170 million for the courthouse-jail expansion and is working on a county school bus garage, finishing up a $12 million sportsplex at Berkeley Park, continuing to pursue Hurricane Helene relief money from the federal government and looking at more capital expense for two county-owned sewer systems.

And commissioners expect to continue the unprecedented capital investments and hurricane recovery — along with all the other day-to-day operations in public safety, schools, human services, recreation and other services — without a tax increase. If the elected board adopts the 2026-27 budget as presented by County Manager John Mitchell, the county tax rate of 43.1 cents/$100 valuation — the fifth lowest in the state among mid-sized counties — will stay the same.

Mitchell's $227.2 million budget covers the debt service for the courthouse-jail expansion and other capital projects and funds regular operations, using $18 million to balance without a tax increase. In the past, the county has committed a sizable amount of its fund balance at the start of the fiscal year, only to end up not having to use it because of grants, cost savings and other changes during the budget year.

Commissioners will look at the budget in greater detail during their May 20 meeting.

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