Nonprofits concerned about possible funding shortfall

Last week’s news that nonprofit funding could be eliminated from the town of Williamston’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget stirred debate and raised questions about the town’s growth.

The issue surfaced at a recent budget work session where Williamston Mayor Dean McCall acknowledged financial pressures shaping the budget are creating tight constraints and that nonprofit funding potentially could be cut.

According to McCall, officials are making strategic reductions across multiple areas to meet the legal requirement of a balanced budget. He noted the process is still evolving and left open the possibility that some nonprofit funding could be restored as the budget is finalized.

“We have been dealing with a very tight budget wor kup for the coming year. As it stands, we are not raising taxes or water rates, and we are making very strategic decisions about how to arrive at a balanced budget, as we are required to do so by law,” said McCall.

Among the most vocal opponents of the potential cuts is the Martin County Chamber of Commerce. Board Chair Barney Conway underscored the chamber’s long standing role in promoting local businesses and supporting economic development.

“The Martin County Chamber of Commerce has been, for some businesses, the sole source of promotion. Small businesses have depended on our chamber since 1947; that’s 77 years of continually promoting our towns and our businesses,” explained Conway. “When a new business comes to our area, one of the first things they do is have the chamber help get the word out to our citizens.

“When a business has something special they want to promote, the chamber does it, via social media, our newsletter and radio. In short, there’s a reason it has been a mainstay in our community for 77 years — it works, and without it, our business community will suffer.”

Board members of the E.J. Hayes Alumni Association, the Martin County Arts Council, the Martin County Chamber of Commerce and the Martin County Historical Society have all raised red flags on reduced funding plans.

Local businessman and Chamber Finance Chair Paul Roberson is disappointed in the proposed actions.

“As the Finance Chair of the chamber, I’d like to express concern about the lack of funding for nonprofits in this year’s town budget. Organizations like the chamber play a vital role in supporting local businesses, driving economic activity and strengthening our community as a whole,” he said. “The chamber’s request of $5,000 is a very small investment within a multimillion-dollar budget — yet it has a meaningful impact on what we’re able to do for the community,” said Roberson.

Roberson is a local real estate broker and experiences the impact local nonprofits make on a town.

“To put things in perspective, last year the town allocated just over $30,000 to nonprofits — less than half of one percent of the total budget. That funding supported several long-standing and essential organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club, EJ Hayes Alumni, the chamber, the Martin County Historical Society, AmVets, the Arts Council and the Recovery Court Program,” explained Roberson. “These groups operate on extremely tight budgets, and every dollar matters. The support they receive from the town directly translates into services, programs and opportunities that benefit our residents.

“I respectfully encourage the town to revisit this portion of the budget during the process and consider restoring funding for these vital nonprofit organizations,” he closed.

The Martin County Historical Society also receives support from the town and appreciates the continued upkeep of the Asa Biggs House, where the Historical Society resides.

“We do not want to lose the financial support from the town of Williamston. They have been very generous in supporting the upkeep of the Biggs House,” said Wayne Peel, Society President. “I can understand some limitations on which organizations will receive funding. Perhaps developing guidelines for organizations within the town that have the potential to return the money invested in a nonprofit.”

At the recent NC Main Street America Conference in New Bern, attended by Williamston Downtown Marketing Coordinator LaShonda Cartwright, the importance a downtown plays in a successful town was highlighted throughout the conference.

Williamston Commissioner David Richmond said there is work towards finding funding.

“I want everybody to know that our staff is working really hard on the budget trying to obviously balance a budget and also find ways to take care of our constituents and nonprofits, working at the budget continuously between now and June,” he said. “I’m trying to make sure we don’t have to cut those funds for nonprofits. They are essential to our town, our county and our community.

“They provide services that the town cannot or would not be appropriate to offer services,” he added.

Aside from the town of Williamston’s potential nonprofit funding cuts, Martin County Manager Drew Batts is also analyzing the county’s contribution to nonprofits for the upcoming 2026-2027 budget and may need to also trim the county’s nonprofit contributions.