Dare County is closing in on the end of the fiscal year 2026 and financing for major beach nourishment projects in Avon and Buxton and new public works facilities on Roanoke Island.
On May 4, 2026, county manager Robert L. Outten presented the manager’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 to the Dare County Board of Commissioners. A public hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2026. The proposal is on darenc.gov under Finance.
On the same date, the board held a public hearing on financing for the beach nourishment projects and the public works improvements. No one spoke. Subsequently, the commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing negotiation of financing contracts or amendments. The resolution calls for financing not to exceed $108,200,000 with $51.7 million going for the Public Works project and $56.5 million for beach nourishment.
On May 11, 2026, the commissioners amended the original financing resolution to add additional sand and costs to the final bill.
It is anticipated that the financing will be included on the June agenda of the state’s Local Government Commission, a required step in the county’s issuance of debt.
Additional financing items approved May 4, 2026
Wanchese Marina – Dare Day Dockside Event Funding. The commissioners appropriated $10,000 for a Dare Day event at 4457 Mill Landing Road, Wanchese. The event will be held Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wanchese Marine Industrial Park asked the commissioners to submit a state appropriation request for $1.5 million for a living shoreline resiliency project. The proposed infrastructure will protect 2,437 linear feet of shoreline alongside the Wanchese Marine Industrial Park, which includes 20 businesses with 400 employees. This shoreline is eroding at about 2 feet per year. The commissioners agreed.
In the adopted consent agenda, the commissioners adopted or approved:
Changing financial policy in Section VI. Appropriation of Fund Balance to delete the word “prior.” The current policy reads “Fund balance originally appropriated with adoption of the General Fund annual operating budget shall not exceed 5% of the prior fiscal year’s budgeted expenditures, unless done per Section II of the Reserve/Fund Balance section of this policy.”
TimeClock Plus has been used by the county for 10 years to manage time and attendance for all of Dare County. The contract was converted from annual to five years, saving $9,626.01 the first year. The annual cost now is $48,817.08.
Cenero AV Maintenance contract for Emergency Operations Center. The three-year contract costs $53,325 per year.
Shallow Draft Cost Share Resolutions. The state’s Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging Fund provides a 75% state match for dredging activities. Resolutions from Dare County commissioners are required. Dare County budgets $3 million each fiscal year for dredging activities in and adjacent to Oregon Inlet and $250,000 for dredging activities in Hatteras Inlet. With State match, this provides $12 million and $1 million respectively for dredging in each area beginning July 1, 2026. The resolutions indicate the 75% requested from the state fund:
