[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6361321,"mediaKeyId","2170834-e83ec0e8f3d14ccc4c472167b1e1a12e","parentId",2170834,"title","Huntersville staff lays out tradeoffs: keep $154 solid-waste fee or convert to tax","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",1422000,"endMs",1591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2170834-e83ec0e8f3d14ccc4c472167b1e1a12e&start=1422&end=1591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2170834-e83ec0e8f3d14ccc4c472167b1e1a12e/thumbnail_1422000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361321/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-staff-lays-out-tradeoffs-keep-154-solid-waste-fee-or-convert-to-tax","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361321-167b473a15755c847d0bff5d08976c6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204444&Signature=hUwhktlUK6m7w2MpNQsDPH6V2CP~sW3lX3g~z7IKSr1s2gogxwIs9asJSCKibanO7H3C5ciYBX4ebok0uwQQaz5yt2fQuZRnF8UpxRlAkrwAns96H~nFEL-mEtY4sUEq1svMv6~In2hgozR3tA17M~CuxKdFyIJrFmBB0XtP5VZrsFxmhPP2Ub8FLJHoly7Y4iaW5Zcwr2vO8lNx0bE0y0d8msJXXjRpBoLWeXu3Ft3Gvwi6R5gMiU6B2Yk9KB778603a9hEXE-Gvaae4EIc93ch3G3Ivl0VHNgXJcUOWLkgDEb~yOWlwWoRjNPcQOVu8ohPGURwSjpnw-sdjMrXMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Huntersville, NC","date","2025-01-31T01:47:53.547Z","article","Huntersville staff presented a summary of solid-waste operations at the planning retreat and asked the board for guidance on whether to maintain the current household fee ($154 per year), increase the fee, or convert the revenue to the town property-tax rate.

Staff said audited FY24 solid-waste costs were roughly $4.9 million and they estimate FY25 costs will be about $5.3 million. The current $154 fee covers an estimated 68 percent of the cost in FY24; if the fee remains $154 for the next year staff estimate coverage will fall to about 64 percent as contract costs rise because the town’s contractor is eligible for a CPI-based annual increase under the contract. The fee currently generates about $3.3 million in revenue and the town now serves more than 22,100 residential units.

Public works described options for the board: keep the fee where it is, increase it toward “full cost coverage” (staff estimated full coverage at about $225 per household this coming year), or eliminate the separate fee and convert the revenue to a property-tax increase. Staff noted advantages and distributional effects: a flat fee affects households evenly in dollars (so a lower-valued home pays proportionally more), while shifting the revenue into the tax rate would spread the burden by property valuation and would remove the visible fee line on the tax bill. Staff also noted commercial properties do not receive curbside residential collection from the town and would be affected differently if the revenue were moved into the tax rate.

No decision was reached at the retreat. Staff asked the board for direction as the budget is prepared; they indicated they will model scenarios (changes to the fee, converting to tax, and household-level impacts) for a future budget meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Workshop Day 1 Morning Session","oneSentenceSummary","Public works presented data showing the current $154/year residential solid-waste fee covers roughly two‑thirds of contract costs; staff asked the board for guidance on whether to raise the fee, keep it, or roll it into the tax rate.","taxTitle","Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina","taxId",4128,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361326,"Huntersville public works flags Powell Bill shortfall, urges supplement to speed street paving",279,1034000,1313000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2170834-e83ec0e8f3d14ccc4c472167b1e1a12e&start=1034&end=1313","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2170834-e83ec0e8f3d14ccc4c472167b1e1a12e/thumbnail_1034000.jpg","/articles/6361326/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-public-works-flags-Powell-Bill-shortfall-urges-supplement-to-speed-street-paving","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361326-1012b352e79701f80deb954cebb60af3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204444&Signature=FC4D0ofpSiPLwd0ryY4pZu3dDkH3yuWed1lyhcfJNLblt5z1c1e4s5wbydVQXoEy82YNgonMxj7zEorbjgDFWfhzgH3x7InFB9XX5n3B7xS6Sw~uWAVuf6Z3e17qVjhmGkPsvbLtUyno-NsplXsu8FiJysFVuzTgFVfsaQfHHb58YbMU-49l8gyseBxVHR2QFgQVzlM9dQ1yWKKU6WHlnll-v--33z2ZnuObDUcFY8bJq8Cf5hqL7JQTlRDK5v~NPKXDfA~ka4rMjLXt-RYPTKkb3Lp8ryKCTQLdrT0TFvx43ib~s-83hWxEI1vNBiPeqqCK8wFAVJ3zvnnNqls88g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Huntersville public works leaders told the town’s 2025 planning retreat that state Powell Bill allocations are not keeping pace with the town’s growing mileage of streets, and recommended using additional local dollars to raise annual paving from the historical 5–7 miles to roughly 10 miles.

The recommendation follows a town analysis showing the most recent Powell Bill allocation to Huntersville at about $2,154,000 and the cost to mill, patch and resurface 1 mile of roadway at roughly $270,000 — about $50,000 to mill, $45,000 to patch the worst 10 percent of a mile and about $175,000 to place two inches of new asphalt. Public works estimated it would cost about $66 million to resurface every town-owned street at once.

The shortfall arises because the town now maintains roughly 244 miles of streets and the Powell Bill amount does not grow fast enough to maintain an acceptable resurfacing cycle. At current funding levels and reserving 15 percent of Powell Bill dollars for signs and vegetation management, public works said the town’s resurfacing cycle would be about 36 years. Increasing annual paving to about 10–11 miles a year — which public works said would reduce the cycle to roughly 25 years — requires supplementing Powell Bill funds. Staff cited a recent resurfacing contract of about $3.5 million and recommended budgeting additional local funds to sustain a 10-plus mile annual paving program.

Public works director Kevin (Public Works Director) and Steven (Engineering Director) emphasized the economy-of-scale savings the town gets by packaging larger resurfacing contracts; smaller work packages typically cost more per mile. Both also warned the overall cost of projects has risen substantially in recent years and cited statewide construction-delivery cost increases reported at roughly 70 percent over the last 4–5 years.

Staff noted practical constraints beyond money: right-of-way needs, utility relocations and contractor scheduling all add time and cost. The board did not take formal action during the retreat; staff sought direction for the FY26 budget process and said a formal recommendation — including proposed supplemental amounts — would appear with the budget.","Public works told the planning retreat Powell Bill funding can’t keep pace with the town’s growing street network and recommended supplementing state dollars so the town can resurface about 10 miles a year instead of the historical 5–7.","actionData","errors"]

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Huntersville staff lays out tradeoffs: keep $154 solid-waste fee or convert to tax

Huntersville public works flags Powell Bill shortfall, urges supplement to speed street paving