[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6244763,"mediaKeyId","3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b","parentId",3228880,"title","Huntersville staff advise holding tax rate; board weighs folding $154 solid-waste fee into property tax","audioSeconds",426,"startMs",296000,"endMs",722000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b&start=296&end=722","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b/thumbnail_296000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244763/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-staff-advise-holding-tax-rate-board-weighs-folding-154-solid-waste-fee-into-property-tax","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244763-13cff1161df67bcdb2e4c0d37716a79a/orig.mp4?Expires=1777122039&Signature=dHXB6b-ENY5ytdnreNHO5YH48YSKbzFWxandZ3YmZzoN-3UQQ9m3V1kGCZuTtHglLMMWvdBD4Do9Hefh9Kb9dYK90YB8V7Dr6PdL1T-Tks5y662HpinrLPPLMevHybSaUho-0pGlzPRF15F4Kt3BOihYFsTCM8Kw3WBOhx184uhAL8kGFe7qlGwe4OUSzH5MPlW7YmJLcHe2R~gvsKN9AfkwvXffZD0V6q4ITzjlPGY8iI1pyrtaD0kgPVlR0y6kQKkCGmDkuXyn0s3F7oRlmbzvoilO7OgKjW1WhMowvPiAGjc2rp-zlwgRxuFf-w7rbQ~JX~DzEcDFkZeral2uhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Huntersville, NC","date","2025-05-08T10:02:59Z","article","Anthony (staff member) told the Huntersville Town Board at a budget workshop that the town is proposing to keep the tax rate unchanged unless board members direct otherwise and opened discussion on several fees, including the annual $154 solid-waste fee.

The solid-waste fee, Anthony said, currently covers about 58% of the direct cost of the program; residents pay $154 on their annual tax bill while the town subsidizes the remainder. The fee generates about $3.3 million a year based on projected residential customers, Anthony said. “If I don’t hear from you, the tax rate is staying the same,” Anthony said when opening debate on fees.

Why it matters: folding the standalone solid-waste fee into the town’s property-tax rate would spread the cost differently across taxpayers and could affect commercial property owners, who do not pay the separate solid-waste fee. Staff estimated that covering the $3.3 million currently raised by the fee through the tax rate would require a little more than a two-cent increase in the rate, which would also increase taxes paid by commercial properties that now do not pay the $154 fee.

Details and context

- Fee coverage and revenue: Staff described the $154 residential charge as covering roughly 58% of per-unit solid-waste costs; the town pays the remainder. Based on the number of accounts budgeted for FY 2026, the $154 charge produces about $3.3 million annually.

- Contract and growth pressure: Staff noted the town’s contract with its hauler is subject to CPI adjustments and that adding residential units increases total program cost; both factors push the town to review the fee annually.

- Rolling fees into the tax rate: Officials discussed the political and distributional consequences of converting the itemized fee into general property tax revenue. Staff said replacing the fee with property-tax revenue would reduce the visible line-item fee on the bill but would raise property taxes for commercial owners who currently do not pay the solid-waste fee. Anthony noted the county’s sales-tax distribution (which is allocated on an ad valorem basis) could also interact with any change in the town’s tax levy.

- Vehicle fee history and use: Jackie (staff member) summarized the vehicle fee history: Huntersville has charged a $20 annual vehicle fee since about 2007 and has kept the collections in a separate special-revenue fund dedicated to transportation projects. Jackie said a $20 fee generates roughly $1 million a year for the town and that the legislature’s broader authority allows municipalities to levy up to $30.

Public input and next steps

Staff invited the board to solicit public feedback at upcoming outreach events and budget hearings. Anthony and Jackie encouraged the board to consider the distributional effects—who would pay more and who would pay less—before giving staff direction. The town’s schedule includes public outreach events in May, a formal public hearing on the budget, and a June 3 vote to adopt the budget and set the tax rate.

Attribution and limits

This account summarizes discussion from the town’s budget workshop and does not report any formal vote. Board members had not taken a formal action to change the fee or the tax rate during the workshop; staff said they would proceed with the current assumption of maintaining the tax rate unless given other direction.

Ending

Staff asked the board whether they want the town to proactively solicit community input on the fee question through surveys and outreach at scheduled events; the board deferred a final decision to later workshops and the formal public-hearing process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Workshop 5-7-25","oneSentenceSummary","Anthony (staff member) told the Huntersville Town Board at a budget workshop that the town is proposing to keep the tax rate unchanged unless board members direct otherwise and opened discussion on whether to absorb the $154 solid-waste fee into the property tax.","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},6244748,"Huntersville budget proposal includes new positions, higher pension contribution and short-term arborist pilot",3459,1546000,5005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b&start=1546&end=5005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","/articles/6244748/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-budget-proposal-includes-new-positions-higher-pension-contribution-and-short-term-arborist-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244748-699083122ab71c678bf0895dcfb4d870/orig.mp4?Expires=1777122039&Signature=jQajdyuxGi8RTxRselNU3ELzj3Ohvbgx2EszQVbabe1nlGJiiB-PfHM4GbeerzFrqWxzJR3Q5OosNFiVY1bvMNtqmDiZ4HPszN~~nMXna4pZCwGzcl8cZsyxdABeT-DVFey3CRSqYUXyhoXxo4dZSvMLtFWgXPvMMmviwd2sc7QxybqTaPkiOy-3gPnw0Jxjs6txXwV~AZXFRowijyINOdjG2qCqdV9Jg6blQ2Ddxi~d~W53xTKoyCym2RdB9UZk0UkC5gycZuTam6~l1M5sR-XwZ-XaZKdrRnNHPLaEAYQ402GEMu1WaFjLFjYv9A~zLPeDykO57E2Z60J8TCeRFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the budget workshop, town staff outlined proposed personnel changes for FY 2026 that include new positions, a higher employer pension contribution to the state retirement system, continued COLA and merit adjustments, and pilot staffing partnerships.

Positions and pilots

- Proposed additions: Jackie (staff member) and Anthony (staff member) described 14 new positions in the FY 2026 proposal, including civilian traffic-investigator roles, additional code-enforcement capacity, three assistant fire chiefs continuing a prior transition, and positions tied to a new town hall (Ethan’s department and code enforcement). Staff said some positions would be phased in, so a full-year payroll cost would not necessarily appear July 1.

- School and public-safety staffing: Staff recommended three positions to start for school-resale or school-support work to serve multiple Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) elementary schools and discussed school-resource-officer funding as part of the personnel list.

- Arborist pilot: The town has begun a short pilot arrangement with Davidson to provide 12 hours a month of arborist support for public education and limited technical help; staff said the trial could be extended, reduced or converted to a town employee depending on need. Jackie described the Davidson arrangement as a “dip of the toe” to see how the town would use an arborist before committing to a full in-house hire.

Pensions, pay and pay studies

- Retirement system costs: Anthony explained the town participates in the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System and that the board of trustees has raised employer contribution rates. He said employees pay 6% of salary and that employer rates will increase roughly 1.25 percentage points in the coming year—bringing employer contribution near 13% for non‑sworn personnel and near 14% for sworn personnel—and estimated the employer increase would cost the town about $288,000 next year.

- COLA and merit: Staff proposed keeping the adopted approach of an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the prior calendar year’s CPI and a merit pool; staff described a combined impact of about 6% (3% COLA + 3% merit) consistent with comparable towns.

Veterans service officer partnership

Anthony said town staff met with the county manager and county staff to explore a partnership to host a veteran service officer (VSO) in Huntersville. If the board agrees, staff said the town’s FY 2026 share for a half-year VSO would likely be in the range of $20,000–$25,000 for salary and benefits, subject to a formal agreement with Mecklenburg County.

Why it matters: Personnel costs are a primary driver of the operating budget. Changes to retirement employer rates, COLA and merit, and new hires all have recurring budget implications; pilots and short-term partnerships (arborist, VSO) were presented as lower-cost ways to test service needs before a full-time commitment.

Attribution and limits

This article summarizes discussion at a workshop; no formal hires or compensation changes were adopted at the meeting. Specific job descriptions, salary ranges and final personnel authorizations will be part of subsequent budget documents and hiring processes.","Staff presented 14 proposed personnel additions, a required increase in employer pension contributions, a proposed COLA and merit program, a short-term arborist pilot with Davidson, and a potential half-year shared veteran service officer with Mecklenburg County.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244753,"Huntersville staff propose $15.6 million draw from reserves for parks, roads and equipment",201,2242000,2443000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b&start=2242&end=2443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6244753/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-staff-propose-156-million-draw-from-reserves-for-parks-roads-and-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244753-3d536932924899d7d8d8f53645281450/orig.mp4?Expires=1777122039&Signature=Q0HBMeOxpQBjxm9Vg-Zc9-xDqt0aSugDmLHa23bLkc9Ed~g~YVQo~hyyUv7nLJbexllbYWMPOlZPpELAfGgZkOTp~DJKHTYfHwczHxC-aGJH1WGnMw4wfXKTA8oE3yEGTd0r-q0EMK5fUV~qHCG5zjY8D~dAbUr3l2F4kM0EE0Ai7dCakf~Q71H1dkrNjQIfJf21u3lyqfW~UnbLAehjce70LptKf76rrqu3MBn2Rq-yd0bUishHlltcA1G89dznk0ZrwW~ZlZB8OFFkuI3GgMKqz7kKQpFmXeWmO~LsabksrCWrQn1OXfvvjtiUCEfe92HrBq7sQqo1-ceN5HUTqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff told the Huntersville Town Board they are proposing to use $15.6 million of the town’s fund balance in the FY 2026 budget to support capital projects and other one-time needs.

Jackie (staff member) and Anthony (staff member) walked the board through the largest items in the proposed draw. Jackie said the town’s audited fund-balance total for the most recent year was about $80 million and that the budget proposal would draw $15.6 million from that balance. Anthony and Jackie emphasized many line items are one-time or multiyear capital obligations, not recurring operating costs.

Why it matters: Using accumulated fund balance to pay for capital work lets the town accelerate projects without issuing additional debt, but sustained draws over multiple years would reduce the town’s reserves. Staff said they are comfortable with the one-year proposal and noted some projects are obligations or reimbursements tied to partner billing schedules outside the town’s direct control.

Key items and amounts described in the workshop

- Fire Station No. 4 Park: Staff estimated an additional roughly $4.6 million would be needed to fund amenities and full project scope when construction bids return, and recommended using fund balance to cover that shortfall.

- Streets and paving: The proposal includes using Powell Bill funds and reserves to roughly double the number of street segments paved in a year compared with the town’s recent pace.

- Sidewalks: The budget proposes $500,000 for repairs to existing sidewalks and about $750,000 for construction of new sidewalks.

- Gilead Road West and Townley Connector: Staff characterized Gilead Road West as a multiyear project with a general-fund allocation of about $500,000 in FY 2026. The town’s FY 2026 budget also includes an estimated $750,000 town contribution toward the Townley Connector on a reimbursement basis tied to developer agreements.

- Emergency services and equipment: Staff identified final payments and outfitting costs tied to previously committed fire apparatus purchases; one final payment on a truck was described as roughly $370,000. Additional emergency-services equipment (air-pack replacement program) was also described as coming from emergency-fund balance.

Staff reasoning and risk

Jackie and Anthony said many items are nonrecurring or timing-driven: partner agencies and contractors bill on schedules outside the town’s control, and some projects are already committed. Jackie noted that dipping into reserves is appropriate for capital projects—if done thoughtfully—but cautioned against a pattern of annual reserve draws without a plan to replenish them.

Board process and next steps

Staff reiterated the budget calendar: board outreach events and a public hearing on the budget in May, followed by a June 3 meeting where the board can adopt a budget ordinance and set the tax rate. No formal votes to spend fund balance were taken at the workshop; staff sought board guidance on priorities and encouraged public comment before any final action.

Ending

Officials said they are comfortable with the proposed single-year use of fund balance given the town’s current reserves and the capital nature of many projects, while noting sustained annual draws would require re-evaluation.","At a budget workshop staff outlined a proposed $15.6 million use of the town’s fund balance for FY 2026, including roughly $4.6 million for Fire Station No. 4 Park, expanded street paving, sidewalk construction funds and multi-year road projects such as Gilead Road West and the Townley Connector.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244758,"Huntersville to hold electric rates steady; renewable-energy rider to rise 5¢ per month",119,1397000,1516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b&start=1397&end=1516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228880-5975929b26452ee2ff548048ea1cc17b/thumbnail_1397000.jpg","/articles/6244758/Huntersville/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Huntersville-to-hold-electric-rates-steady-renewable-energy-rider-to-rise-5-per-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244758-fa5d1589f5f9ac46a5eead9b3c9511cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1777122039&Signature=Hgh8Bi3Z3o~KXhh8rhPEJX39mbINSg6cSJH~6yACzlMGvcKXqko2wru53oIQl~F9eKahXqVvA-edsLDpjk9nK~Qa4EdsULIJR4MK26GHm93Ism40w7DQWPyhxjwWx1atHMYY4SKxrj2Ua4Ilg4qqEmu1IY3tqevN4HtWPW2pnMfXmGm0Gaerj3LQPgzp9v53~hGWySAo2IKPrdD~4m2pS9IROItFj6F8jheDVKGvsRPzjAup38uc0ZwSwAOyS8EeGatVSciFyVXHi7HWXyETsvvmeaoFffjna8QwSyKpczq2BdX8a6xfur1-w1XnI4YwJoVGIzQ8BXmglaLH8QOkKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town electric rates are proposed to remain unchanged in the FY 2026 budget, staff told the Huntersville Town Board, but the renewable-energy portfolio standards (REPS) rider will increase from $0.82 to $0.87 per customer per month effective July 1.

David (staff member) explained the REPS rider and its legal basis: the rider is a pass-through charge collected from electric customers and remitted to the power agency to comply with state renewable-energy requirements enacted in 2007. “REPS is renewable energy portfolio standards. On August 2, 2007, Senate Bill 3 was passed, which required any entity that had an electric utility to pay money toward renewable energy portfolio standards,” David said. He added the increase is a small fraction of customer bills—about 5 cents per month, or roughly 60 cents per year.

Why it matters: The REPS rider funds compliance with state renewable-energy obligations and is administratively separate from the town’s base retail electric rate. Staff framed the change as a pass-through mandated by the town’s power arrangements rather than a discretionary revenue increase.

Details

- Rate recommendation: Staff recommended no change to basic electric rates for customers for FY 2026.

- REPS rider: The rider will move from $0.82 to $0.87 per customer per month, effective July 1; staff characterized this as a pass-through used by the power agency to meet renewable energy requirements under state law.

Attribution and next steps

This was discussion at a budget workshop; the board did not take a formal vote on electric rates at the session. Staff indicated they would incorporate the REPS adjustment into the proposed utility budget for formal consideration in the coming budget-adoption process.","Town staff said proposed municipal electric rates will not change for FY 2026, but the renewable-energy portfolio standard (REPS) rider collected from customers will increase from $0.82 to $0.87 per month effective July 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Huntersville staff advise holding tax rate; board weighs folding $154 solid-waste fee into property tax

Huntersville budget proposal includes new positions, higher pension contribution and short-term arborist pilot

Huntersville staff propose $15.6 million draw from reserves for parks, roads and equipment

Huntersville to hold electric rates steady; renewable-energy rider to rise 5¢ per month