The Cumberland County Commission approved a new budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year Monday night that avoids a property tax increase.
The budget maintains the current property tax rate of $1.1350 for every $100 of assessed value. Mayor Allen Foster said the spending plan relies on more than $11 million from fund balance, to cover the gap between recurring revenue and expenses.
The General Purpose School Fund will use some $9,981,401 from its fund balance, with approximately $5 million of that total dedicated to one-time capital projects. Officials said the remaining $5 million in school spending is for recurring expenditures that are not covered by current revenue.
Officials said the budget includes a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment for county employees and adds new full-time positions for a Veterans Service Officer and a patrol officer. Officials said the county also had to absorb a 10 percent increase in health insurance costs alongside rising retirement and workers’ compensation expenses.
