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Budget

County Beacon Newsletter # 9: Budgets, Budgets Everywhere

Explore your local budget and let us know what questions you have and what you'd like to know more about!

Bri Brough

• 5 min read
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County Beacon Newsletter # 9: Budgets, Budgets Everywhere

North Carolina finally has a state budget for the first time in more than 1,000 days. Governor Josh Stein signed the budget on Tuesday despite some reservations. You can read more about what the budget means for you here. 

One reason the state having a working budget is so important is that those funds flow to our communities through agencies and programs that are administered at the local level. Our public schools, local law enforcement and Medicaid programs all get some of their funding from the state and federal governments. 

Speaking of local budgets, have you ever looked at yours? Use the links below to explore your local, recently adopted budget and tell us (you can reply to this email!) - what questions do you have about how local budgets work? What do you think should be funded more, or not at all? 

Underneath each budget is the available reporting on the budget. If you don’t already subscribe to The Franklin Times or The Ledger News, now is a great time to support the local reporting that keeps our public officials accountable!

This picture has nothing to do with this story, we just thought you deserved a moment of Zen for reading about budgets.

County Budgets

Franklin County budget - Adopted Unanimously

Topline: Top budget category is education, including giving the public school system what it asked for and funding charter schools, and Vance-Granville Community College. Funding for farmland preservation was a top point of discussion during the public comment period, and commissioners added $50,000 to the budget for farmland preservation in response. The budget does not raise taxes and provides county employees with a raise. 

Granville County budget - Adopted Unanimously

Topline: The county tax rate of 63.1 cents per $100 valuation remains the same as the previous year. Education is the greatest percentage of the county’s operating budget.

Municipal Budgets

Franklin County

Town of Bunn (Budget not available online)

Town of Franklinton budget - Adopted Unanimously

Topline: Commissioners discussed lowering the tax rate from its current rate of 71 cents per $100 of valuation, but ultimately left it unchanged, citing the slow rate of development that is preventing the town from filling its coffers with additional taxpayers. According to the Franklin Times, “Commissioners noted that the town has about 5,000 housing units that have been approved, on paper.” Many developments are waiting for water allocation before they can be built. 

Town of Louisburg budget - Adopted

Topline: The budget includes a seven-cent tax hike, bringing the property tax rate up to 57 cents per $100 of valuation. That’s two cents more than Town Administrator Sean Medlin requested, and the additional funds will be put aside in the general fund for potential future salary increases. The town lacks financial statements going back nearly three years and has hired a CPA to update its financial reporting. 

Town of Youngsville budget - Adopted Unanimously

Topline: Passed unanimously with no public comment. Includes no tax rate increase, a seven percent cost of living increase for town employees and reduces overall spending by $57,000 from the previous year.

This deer thinks local budgets are super important. 

Granville County

Town of Butner budget - Adopted Unanimously

Topline: No tax increase - rate remains at 42 cents per $100 valuation. 

City of Creedmoor budget - Adopted

Topline: Debate about how much to increase local taxes - three cents or six cents per $100 of valuation. An increase of six cents would balance the budget. An increase of 3 cents would require drawing down the fund balance to make up the difference. The board voted 3-2 to pass the budget with a six-cent increase. 

Town of Stem budget - Adopted

Town of Stovall - Adopted (Budget not available online)

In other news, Butner became the first municipality in Granville County to pass a data center moratorium. Read our quick recap of the decision here. 

Thanks for reading! You deserve a little treat.

Upcoming Events

Grand Opening - Welcome Inn Cocktails

Friday, July 11, 5:00 p.m.
Welcome Inn, 403 South Bickett Blvd., Louisburg
An elevated cocktail lounge located off Highway 401, featuring curated spirits and thoughtfully crafted drinks in a welcoming, refined atmosphere.✨

Franklin County Board of Commissioners Meeting

Monday, July 13
Franklin Plaza Training Room, 279 South Bickett Blvd., Louisburg
Meeting agendas published here prior to the meeting. Meetings are live streamed on Franklin County's Youtube channel, @FranklinCoNC

Childcare Accessibility Listening Session

July 14 and 15, 6:30 p.m.
Youngsville Public Library, 218 US-1 ALT, Youngsville
Hosted by Franklin County Economic Development to better understand how childcare accessibility impacts local families, workers, and our community. Your feedback will help guide future conversations and identify opportunities for solutions and support.
FranklinChildCareListeningSessions.jpg

Trivia night at 210 Nash

Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m.
210 Nash St., Louisburg
Two rounds of Trivia hosted by Sox Off Entertainment

Open Mic @ Three Lions Pub

Wednesday, July 15, 6:30-9:00
306 E Nash St, Louisburg
Share your talent or just drink and cheer!

Granville County Board of Elections Special Called Meeting

Wednesday, July 15, 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Granville County Convention & Expo Center, 4185 U.S. Highway 15
Oxford
The board will reconsider Saturday Early Voting dates and the location and number of early voting sites for the November 2026 General Election, as part of the County's Plan for Implementation under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-166.35. Approval of early voting plans requires the unanimous vote of all members of the Board. The public can watch them meeting in-person or live streamed on YouTube.

Friday Night On The Tar

Friday, July 17, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Main Street and Pete Smith Amphitheater
Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the show!

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