Town Council Workshop

TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE AGENDA Town Hall/Community Room April 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm 30 South MainStreet, Weaverville, NC 28787 Town Council Regular Budget Workshop 1. Call to Order .......................................................................................................... Mayor Fitzsimmons 2. Presentation of Town Manager’s Proposed FY2025-2026 Budget and Budget Message ………………………………………………………………………………….……. Town Manager Harris 3. Action to Set Public Hearing on Proposed FY2025-2026 Budget ….……………….… Mayor Fitzsimmons Motion to set a public hearing on the proposed FY2025-2026 budget for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6 pm in the Community Room/Council Chambers at Town Hall 4. Town Council Questions, Discussion, and Input ….………………..…………………………. Town Council 5. Adjournment ………………………………………………………………………………………….…........ Mayor Fitzsimmons FY2025-2026 Budget Workshop #2 Town of Weaverville Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Property Tax Rate = $0.37 • Property Tax Rate Increase = $0.02 • Use of General Fund Balance = $1.35M • Water Rate Increase = 5% • Fire Tax Rate Increase = 0% • Full-Time Positions Added = 1 Detective, 2 WTP Operators • Proposed COLA = 3% • Proposed Merit Increase = 2% Fund Proposed Budget % Increase • Health Insurance Increase = 3% • Vehicles/Equipment Added = General Fund $9,751,242 4.3% • Ford Lightning Truck • Leaf Vacuum Fire Fund $4,338,395 5.6% • Water System Equipment • Generator for Water Pump Station Water Fund $3,510,644 7.9% • Security Cameras Total $17,600,281 5.3% • Capital Project Funding = • $300,000 – Fire Apparatus • $100,000 – Cellular Read Water Meters • $100,000 – Waterline Replacement FY26 Budget in Brief  • Current Tax Rate = $0.35 per $100 value • Proposed Tax Rate = $0.37 per $100 value • Proposed Use = $1.35M • Usable General Funds = $1M - $2M • Revenue Impact on Tax Rate Increase: 1 ¢ = $133,500 Tax Rate and Fund 2 ¢ = $267,000 Balance Information 3 ¢ = $400,500 4 ¢ = $534,000 5 ¢ = $667,500 • Tax Bill Impact on Tax Rate Increase: $250,000 $50.00 $300,000 $60.00 $400,000 $80.00 $500,000 $100.00 $750,000 $150.00 $1,000,000 $200.00 Property Tax Information • $1.23 Billion in FY25 Tax Base • $1.26 Billion estimated for FY26 • 2.5% increase this year; prior years have averaged 4% • $0.35 for FY25; $0.37 budgeted for FY26 Tax Rate • $0.02 = $267,000 in revenue • Last increase was in 2016 Property Tax • $4.3 Million in FY25 Revenue • $4.66 Million budgeted in FY26 (with tax rate increase) Current and Proposed Level of Staffing and Personnel Growth by Department 2015 2020 2025 2026 Administration 2 3 4 4 Finance 3 4 4 4 Planning 1 1 2 2 Community Center - 1 2 2 Public Works – Sanitation, 13 13 15 15 Stormwater, Grounds, Streets Police 15 17 21 22 Fire 18 24 30 30 Water Distribution 5 5 6 6 Water Production 4 5 5 7 Cost-of-Living Type Adjustment and Merit Increases • 2% is budgeted for merit increases that are tied to performance • Town Council indicated a willingness to provide a COLA • 3% COLA is recommended for recruitment and retention • If Town Council would like to address the fairness aspect of the effect of a percentage increase, then the equivalent of a 3% cost-of-living adjustment could be equalized over all full-time employees, resulting in $2,100 that will be added to the annual salary of each full- time employee  Anyone making $70,000 or below would see a 3% increase or greater, with the lowest salary levels increasing by approximately 5.6%  Employees making more than $70,000 would see between a 1.7% and 3% increase. Governing Body, Administration, Planning, Community Center Budget Overview • No new personnel or equipment • HR Outsourcing • HVAC and Building Maintenance • Office Renovation to create more office space • Municipal Elections • Fourth of July Celebration • Community Programming • Outside Agency Funding: • WBA • Senior Meals Police Department Budget Overview • 1 detective position recommended; 3 positions requested • 1 Ford Lightning Truck (electric) • Security Cameras – Clock Parking Lot, Lake Louise Park • Manager Recommended but not funded: • 2 peak hour patrol officers to focus on traffic issues • 2 vehicles for those patrol officers • Large evidence storage facility • Security upgrade to weapons qualification facility • Garage improvements Public Works Department (Sanitation, Stormwater, Grounds Maintenance, Streets) Budget Overview • No positions recommended; 4 positions requested • Engineering services budgeted (if needed) • Leaf Vacuum • Manager Recommended but not funded: • Streets Improvement Program • Handrails on Lake Louise steps • Neighborhood Parks • Sanitation Truck (2nd, recommended in future) • Knuckleboom Grapple Truck (2nd, recommended in future) Fire Department Budget Overview • No tax rate increase proposed; current tax rate = $0.1227 • Town funding percentage is 47% with an in-Town call percentage of 47.5% • County funding percentage is 53% with a district call percentage of 52.5% • No positions recommended; 3 positions requested • Continued funding of fire apparatus • Pre-ordering of Rescue Truck recommended • Manager Recommended but not funded: • 3 captain positions • Reclassification of 3 firefighters to fire engineers • Long-term planning for substation locations Public Works Department (Water) Budget Overview • Water Production • 2 positions recommended; 4 positions requested • SCADA upgrades, Turbidimeter, and Auma Actuators • Engineering services budgeted for Production and Distribution (if needed) • Water Distribution • No personnel recommended; 2 positions requested • Cellular read water meters (to replace faulty units only) • Waterline replacements, SCADA equipment, and generator at Hillcrest Pump • Manager Recommended but not funded: • Fire alarm and security system at WTP • Additional personnel in Water Distribution • Full funding of cellular read meters • General Discussion/Direction on: • Tax Rate Increase • Use of Fund Balance • COLA/Merit Increase • Authority to Pre-Order Rescue Truck • Authority to Post WTP Positions (posting prior to 7/1/25, with hires after 7/1/25) • Decision on Early Voting for Municipal Elections Town Council Discussion and Initial Direction Next Steps: • Town Council Regular Meeting, April 28 at 6 pm • Budget Workshop #3 and Public Hearing on Budget, May 13 at 6 pm • Town Council Regular Meeting, May 19 at 6 pm • Budget Workshop #4, June 3 at 6 pm • Budget Workshop #5 and Adoption, June 17 at 6 pm Scottie Harris, Budget Officer sharris@weavervillenc.org 828-645-7116 Tonya Dozier, Finance Director tdozier@weavervillenc.org 828-645-7116