New Hanover County’s manager budget recommendations increases school funding and cuts Port City United

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) —  New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet presented a recommended budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to County Commissioners Thursday afternoon.

Among its recommendations was keeping the county’s tax rate at 45 cents per $100 of property valuation and cutting several programs.

Among the recommended cuts was Port City United, likely signaling the end of the program as it faced scrutiny following two arrests of former employees in recent weeks. The program was created back in 2022 to try and reduce violence in the county.

County Commissioner Jonthan Barfield Jr said he didn’t support ending the program.

“Again, you got a department that started with a mission to help reduce violence in our community,” Barfield said. “And I think in a large part, they have done that. And I would hate to see that department go away.”

Commissioner Rob Zapple shared similar feelings and said it’s tough to see an entire program end due to the actions of a few.

“When you stand something up from scratch, you’re going to run into that,” Zapple said. “I just hate to see all the good parts of that program get painted with a broad brush through guilt by association while we have a number of employees who have done nothing but show up everyday and do excellent work and have helped raise our community here.”

26% of the $543 million budget is dedicated to education, the largest portion of any sector.

Coudriet said the budget recommended including some additional funding to help New Hanover County schools.

“So $5.5 Million in new money for the classroom, sustaining the PreK commitment, nearly $2 million and an additional $2.1 million for school nurses and school-based mental health therapists,” Coudriet said.

Despite the additional $5.5 million for classrooms, that falls short of the $10.1 million the county school board had previously asked for, as the district faces a $20 million shortfall.

A vote on a final budget isn’t expected to happen until June 17th, with the approved budget having to be sent to the state by June 30th.