For many, June represents the beginning of the summer — but for local governments, it represents the end of the fiscal year when budgets must be finalized and approved.
The Orange County local governments are set to meet and pass updated budgets throughout the month, deciding the tax rates for residents and what projects are receiving funding priority. In a financial landscape still challenged by federal funding changes and uncertain economic stability, elected officials are weighing public comments and deliberating on paths forward for 2026-27. As those budget are approved, details will be shared below.
Here are the final totals for the budgets, the property tax rates for each community, highlights from the packages and comments from the elected leaders.
Carrboro
Total budget: $44.8 million (28% decrease from FY26’s $62.5 million)
Approved property tax rate: 56.53 cents per $100 of valuation (same as FY26 rate)
Amount above revenue-neutral rate: 9.72 cents
Council Vote: 7-0
Notable details: After the town staff proposed a budget that would cut 45% of allocations to the town’s Human Services efforts — which largely go toward supporting the Inter-Faith Council and the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness — council members debated through the spring on whether to sign off on the cuts or use the government’s fund balance to provide support. Ultimately, on June 2, the council took the $197,000 necessary to meet last fiscal year’s funding allocation for the nonprofits from the fund balance. Council Members Cristóbal Palmer and Danny Nowell, who made the amendment to add back the funding, both argued that while relying on the fund balance is not a best practice, the town’s lack of fund balance use in FY26 puts it in a relatively comfortable position to make the allocation. Other council members, like Eliazar Posada-Orozco and Catherine Fray, shared their reservations of continuing to rely on the fund balance to cover annual expenditures — but everyone decided to vote in favor of the budget because of the rest of its components.
Those other components included investments into recovering from Tropical Storm Chantal, like purchasing 20 new vehicles for its public works fleet and commissioning a new design for the damaged Public Works building. Another big-ticket item is funding to advance planning efforts for Stages 3 and 4 of the Bolin Creek Greenway extension. Some community members pushed back against the idea during the June 2 public comment period, saying spending $500,000 on a crossing study should not be a priority — while council members pushed back and said the paving and extension of the greenway is crucial to both Carrboro’s long-term sustainability goals and transit plan.
Watch the full Carrboro Town Council June 2 meeting here, and visit the town’s website for Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget details.
Hillsborough
Set for adoption on Monday, June 8 — Read more about the town staff’s proposal here.
Chapel Hill
Set for adoption on Wednesday, June 10 — Read more about the town staff’s proposal here.
Orange County
Set for adoption on Tuesday, June 16 — Read more about the county staff’s proposal here.
Featured photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.
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