Cornelius Outlines Departmental Funding Requests for Upcoming Budget

Town Manager and department heads present capital and operational needs to town board

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a day-long budget planning session, Cornelius town officials outlined funding requests from various departments, including ElectriCities, Fire, Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Police. Key items discussed included infrastructure for new developments, vehicle replacements, a potential special separation allowance for firefighters, and salary increases for public safety personnel to remain competitive with regional peers.

Why it matters

The budget planning session provides an early look at the town's priorities and financial pressures as it prepares its annual budget. Decisions made will impact services, infrastructure, and staffing levels, ultimately affecting Cornelius residents and businesses.

The details

The town manager noted that 97% of capital requests were related to transportation, parks, and public safety - the top priorities in the citizen budget survey. Highlights include a $2 million request from ElectriCities for infrastructure and equipment, a $3.156 million request from the Fire Department including three new full-time firefighter positions and a new fire engine, and a $650,000 police vehicle replacement request. The Planning Department also proposed bringing engineering plan review services in-house. Across departments, significant salary increases for public safety personnel were proposed to remain competitive with regional peers.

  • The budget planning session was held on February 5, 2026.
  • The town's annual budget retreat is scheduled for late March 2026.

The players

Andrew Grant

Cornelius Town Manager who led the budget planning session.

Guerry Barbee

Cornelius Fire Chief who detailed the department's funding requests.

Rox Burhans

Cornelius Planning Director who proposed bringing engineering plan review services in-house.

David Baucom

Cornelius Police Chief who outlined the department's vehicle replacement and other funding needs.

Andrea Clemmer

Cornelius Human Resources Director who presented a proposal to increase starting pay for public safety personnel.

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What they’re saying

“As the town of Cornelius, this would establish us as a leader in North Carolina for fire departments, and it would help tremendously with our recruitment and even more with our retention.”

— Guerry Barbee, Cornelius Fire Chief (lakenormanpublications.com)

“I don't think we can do that without raising taxes.”

— Todd Sansbury, Cornelius Commissioner (lakenormanpublications.com)

“I don't know that the increase is the problem. I think it's what's the impact to the residents. That's going to be what they want to see from us.”

— Colin Furcht, Cornelius Commissioner (lakenormanpublications.com)

What’s next

The town manager will continue to explore the details and financial implications of the proposed special separation allowance for firefighters and report back at the March budget retreat. The town board will also determine if the $250,000 request to replace the Westmoreland Athletic Complex playground can be accommodated in the budget.

The takeaway

Cornelius is grappling with the competing priorities of maintaining and improving critical infrastructure, providing competitive compensation for public safety personnel, and minimizing the impact on taxpayers. The budget planning session sets the stage for tough decisions ahead as the town works to balance these needs.