PITTSBORO, NC— On May 4, 2026, Chatham County Manager Bryan Thompson presented the recommended fiscal year 2026-27 budget of $303.2 million at the Chatham County Board of Commissioners Regular Session in Pittsboro.

The budget proposal calls for a maintained property tax rate of 60 cents per $100 of valuation and prioritizes funding for education and public safety while supporting growth and essential services.

Community members can view the proposed FY27 budget on the County website. The budget is also available for inspection at the County Manager’s Office.

The public has various opportunities to share their feedback with the Board of Commissioners.
• Two public hearings:
o Monday, May 18th, 6:00 p.m. at the Chatham County Historic Courthouse located at 9 Hillsboro Street, Second Floor Courtroom in Pittsboro.
o Tuesday, May 19th, 6:00 p.m. at Siler City Town Hall located at 311 North 2nd Avenue in Siler City.
• Individuals may submit comments in writing to Clerk to the Board Jenifer Johnson at jenifer.johnson@chathamcountync.gov.

Thompson said the recommended budget delivers critically needed services and places the County on stable financial footing for the future.

“As we move forward into the next fiscal year, I am confident this budget will enable us to address current challenges, seize opportunities for growth and innovation, and continue building a stronger, more resilient Chatham County,” said Thompson.

Chatham County Schools
The County continues to prioritize support for education. The proposed budget funds an additional $3.1 million for Chatham County Schools. Current expense will increase by $2.2 million in order to fund estimated state salary adjustments expected in the next state budget, fund anticipated increases in employee benefits and retirement costs, provide a small increase in operating expenses, continue to restore additional compensation that was removed by the state nearly a decade ago for teachers who have a master’s degree, address the benefits costs associated with the district’s unified stipend schedule, and increase in the required transfer to charter schools.

As growth continues within Chatham County, ensuring the safety of all community members is also a priority.

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office
The portion of the proposed budget allocated to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is an approximate increase of $1.7 million over FY2026 Original Budget. There is an additional approximate $1.6 million in continuation increases – including the annualized cost of positions approved for a partial year in FY2026, increased operating, and capital outlay costs.

Chatham County Emergency Operations
Continuing with the focus on public safety, there is in additional approximate $1.2 million in EMS contract costs due to an additional ambulance unit added mid-year in FY26 and an additional district chief/supervisor in FY27. Approximately $190,000 would be used to replace two vehicles and purchase one new off-road rescue vehicle.

New and Increased County Fees
There are several new fees and increases to current fees recommended in this budget which include:
• Watershed Protection – New fees and fee changes to address market rate updates and recovery of extensive review and enforcement costs.
• Planning – New fees and fee changes to address increased application volume, staff review, and public process costs.
• Inspections – Fee changes to address higher service costs and improve equity across charges.
• Agriculture & Conference Center – New fees to address added staffing and cleaning for late-night events.

Fire District Tax Rates
Of the 12 fire districts that provide services within Chatham County, six districts requested a rate increase in FY27.
Fire department highlights include:
• Bells Annex along with North Chatham proposed a 1.3 cent increase. This will bring their FY27 tax rate to 11.5 cents.
• The Circle City District, which serves the Town of Pittsboro proposed a 0.25 cent increase. This will bring their FY27 tax rate to 11.25 cents.
• The Goldston District proposed a 1.5 cent increase. This will bring their FY27 tax rate to 11.5 cents. The Northview District proposed a 0.4 cent increase. This will bring their FY27 tax rate to 9.4 cents.
• The City of Durham Fire Department, which provides service for the Parkwood District, is requesting an increase of their contract payment pursuant to the standing Interlocal Agreement. This district tax rate is recommended at the revenue neutral amount. The contractual increase requires a 0.1 cent tax increase to fund. This will bring their FY27 tax rate to 8.54 cents.

County Staff Pay
The recommended budget also includes a 3% increase in pay for County staff. “While many expenses are necessary to continue movement toward our goals, competitive salaries are essential to attracting and retaining our greatest asset, talented professional staff,” added Thompson.
This month, the Board of Commissioners will have a series of work sessions on the budget after the public hearings. State law requires the Board to approve the budget no later than June 30th.