County passes budget with no tax increase

By Loretta Cozart

County commissioners passed the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget with no tax increase to residents. The current property tax rate of 54.75 cents per $100 valuation will remain the same, as will the 14 cents public school tax, and the 8.75 cents fire tax.

Total revenue in the General Fund is budgeted at $134.6 million, approximately a $9 million increase from the prior fiscal year. Most of this increase is associated with the consolidation of the rescue squads into Cleveland County Government along with increased debt funding for the Justice Center project. All revenue projections were established maintaining a 54.75 cent tax rate. The budget includes a 5% cost of living increase for county employees. Seven new positions are land County Sheriff's Office that includes four new deputies, victim’s specialist, shooting range officer, and mechanic.

County Commissioners have identified several key initiatives specific to promoting and improving community wellness with the top being an intentional focus on actively engaging in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Included under the Community Wellness Focus Atea arc:

• Improvement in Community Health Rankings

• Effective Use of Opioid Settlement Funds

• Expansion of Existing Trail Systems & Exploration of New Opportunities

The county plans to re-engage its focus on community health and re-focus on improving metrics. Cleveland County remains outside the top 80 in County population health. The pri- remains premature death.

Chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse are among the leaders in the premature death category. Almost one-third of our county residents are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Our county's stroke rate is 80 per 100,000 (which is double the state average) and our overdose rankings are unproportionally high.

Cleveland County District Schools’ budget increased by $900,000 for teaching supplements, bringing the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget to $32.4 million.

Interim County Manager Todd Carpenter said the county is experiencing growth in population, property and sales tax, Jobs, housing, and industry.

The county also anticipates an additional $75,000 in revenue generated by Ca-