Alamance County residents press for schools, EMS funding in budget debate

Alamance County residents are pushing schools and emergency medical services to the front of the county budget fight, even as many say they could live with a tax increase and others want cuts aimed at the sheriff’s office.

County manager Heidi York told commissioners that 889 people completed the county’s budget survey as staff prepared the 2026-27 spending plan. Of those respondents, 78 percent named the local school system as a top priority and 59 percent identified EMS as a key funding need. The sheriff’s office was the most common target for possible reductions, with 40 percent saying it could be due for cuts.

York also said 48 percent of respondents were willing to consider a property tax increase if it preserved current service levels. Another 32 percent opposed any tax hike, while 21 percent said they did not know enough to weigh in. York stressed that the survey was not designed to be a scientifically valid sample, but as another way to gather public feedback beyond the usual hearing format.

The public comment period reflected the same split. Nineteen people addressed commissioners, with seven speaking mainly about proposed large subdivisions near the unincorporated community of Saxapahaw and 12 focusing on county finances. That mix showed how budget politics in Alamance County are now tied to growth, service levels and tax pressure at the same time.

York’s recommended budget presentation said the county faced a $13 million deficit just to keep spending level. Once budget requests were included, the gap grew to nearly $23 million. The presentation pointed to cost increases, reliance on non-recurring revenues and state and federal funding cuts as drivers of the imbalance.

It also said Alamance County lowered its property tax rate from 65.0 cents to 43.2 cents after the last revaluation, limiting revenue growth even as the tax base expanded. County leaders have also used unassigned fund balance to fill revenue gaps, but the presentation warned that the balance is now too low for emergencies and out of policy compliance, with the possibility of threatening the county’s bond rating.

The budget outlook comes after another contentious year. In June 2025, commissioners approved a 2025-26 budget that included a 2.5-cent property tax increase after heated debate, and York had said full funding for the Alamance-Burlington School System would have required a 7.5-cent tax increase. That same cycle brought warnings about possible library closures before commissioners restored funding for some services, including the county rescue unit, Family Abuse Services and CrossRoads.

This year’s school request is again large. ABSS asked the county in March for $88.1 million for 2026-27, about a 23 percent increase over the prior year’s county appropriation. District leaders later said they were disappointed the county did not go farther last year, even as they acknowledged the pressure on commissioners.

The county’s budget calendar still has time, but not much. The new fiscal year begins July 1, and the themes guiding the next round of decisions are education, public safety, quality of life, smart development and accountability. For Alamance County leaders, the challenge is no longer just balancing numbers. It is choosing which local priorities can survive a shrinking margin.