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The Dare County Board of Commissioners met for five and half hours Monday, May 5, 2025, celebrating volunteers, conducting a hearing about a zoning text amendment for Buxton, and hearing county manager Robert L. Outten’s budget proposal for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and the Community Health Assessment.

Here’s a quick rundown on some of the items.

Buxton Text Amendment. Up for consideration was a 1988 amendment to the SED-1 zoning district that creates a Zone of Influence bordering Buxton Woods, the largest intact maritime forest on the East Coast. Speaking at the public hearing were 13 people, including eight from Buxton. Several legal issues were raised. At the end of questioning and discussion by the board, a motion made by board Chairman Robert L. Woodard was passed. The motion tabled the request for a text amendment for 90 days “so we can study this to find a workaround.” Added to the original motion was for the county to pursue a written legal opinion.

Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service. Recipients and families waited for two and half hours before being called to the podium. Woodard apologized for the delay. Shannon Toler Glaser, Friends of Youth program coordinator, read extensive biographies of the volunteer work accomplished by these amazing people and two organizations: Aria Thompson, Cathy Dagg, Leonard Schmit, Jim Bailey, Frank Dale Draper, Melanie Salinas, Ashley Scout Shillings and Biff Jennings, the Dare County Teen Court and Interfaith Community Outreach.

Chuck Lycett, Dare County’s director of the Social Services Division, was awarded the North Carolina Director of Social Services for the Year. Sheila Davies, the county’s Director of Health and Human Services, announced the award made on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Wilmington.

Reminders about events abounded. Two proclamations were passed. May is Older Americans Month. Dare County Emergency Medical Services will celebrate its special week, May 18 through 24. On the May 17, an Open House will be held at the new Emergency Medical Services Station 1 from10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Kids Fest, organized for young children (birth-five) is scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2025 at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Commissioners Mary Ellon Ballance and Mike Burrus, and perhaps others, have signed up for the dunk tank.

On more serious notes, a report on the 2024-2025 Dare County Community Health Needs Assessment Summary was delivered by Kelly Nettnin Fleming, Health Education & Outreach supervisor. The Healthy Carolinians of the Outer Banks, a multi-disciplinary partnership, selected, based on data, eight items for the Watch List. Those health items are mental health, substance abuse, access to healthcare, cancer, older adults, unintentional injuries, economy, and health behaviors. Concentration will be placed on the first three items. Did you know that suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Dare County?

The commissioners approved the recommendations from the Saving Lives Task Force for spending this year’s allocation of the Opioid Settlement Agreement funding.

And about spending, Outten delivered his recommended budget for the fiscal year 2026 and 2027.

The overall budget totals $242,965,850 with the General Fund totaling $143,011,201.

As promised, no general fund property tax increase. The revenue neutral rate is 26.32 cents per $100 valuation. The ad valorem tax revenue is calculated on a 99.67% collection rate set with last fiscal year’s collection rate. Occupancy tax is projected at 2.5% over last year, which is lower that the normal growth rate of 3%.

Expenditures increased by $6,839,996 over fiscal year 2025. The increase was occasioned by $2.2 million to Dare County Schools, $1.7 million for a 3% cost of living pay increase for employees and $1.7 million for contract and rate increases like utilities, retirement and insurance.

One insurance cost is going down. The county’s health plan has no projected increase for 2026.

The commissioners are concerned with General Assembly items. Crossover is set for May 8, 2025, by which date bills must be enacted by either the NC Senate or House to be considered for action.

The board enacted two resolutions. The first opposed new and increased tolls on the state’s ferries. The second opposed the increase in health insurance premiums for state employees in the Department of Public Instruction system.

These and more items will be explored in future editions of The Coastland Times.

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