[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,74,85,97,109],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6235859,"mediaKeyId","3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078","parentId",3396680,"title","Town staff say fire budget rose for staffing, apparatus and post‑probation raises; Idlewild support explained","audioSeconds",447,"startMs",1839680,"endMs",2286880,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078&start=1839&end=2286","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078/thumbnail_1839680.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235859/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Town-staff-say-fire-budget-rose-for-staffing-apparatus-and-postprobation-raises-Idlewild-support-explained","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235859-df5566162904e7aa7fea27dc9ee5d7bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141215&Signature=bru4kaz8Qkl2SP1GqEvFXoVTtxRcs6Atxhud3orfHmFp-a-GADGLRjGwXwUQmOMuPZDvi~EqjO8ahq6kemmOqc7s20kJuvChA6gd9tegjcr3UJYtS0cOd0LOjfwMjEmJtHfXut5f6hqb54koFSwbo4j8VuMGUATGXYm8VXgHyd7lfl8~rSAAD71Tto~FOlwVHiZF7ULEYVrU7CSckCk1AGJGUwpPABr8d4hzgKv0M3lc4ZZgQjJtUhotEBPfwutaipSSr3Hllhv80fFtEbwPBaOPrH4~l3CU9ZmgN7nXb~Kf4FmrmQHYEhkkuXpw4QRRYS4QlRbSZ~s3XNdvhNoneQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-20T12:09:08Z","article","Commissioners asked how recent budget increases affected the fire department’s operations and interlocal support arrangements; Matthews’ fire leadership and staff described how hiring, raises and new apparatus contributed to the FY26 budget.

What staff said: A town representative explained the budget increase included funding for 15 newly hired firefighters who are certified and received post‑probation raises. The town also covered merit and cost-of-living adjustments for incumbent personnel and increased part‑time staffing levels to cover shifts more cost-effectively. Staff noted that expanding the number of part‑time members saved roughly $250,000 a year compared with converting those positions to full‑time equivalents.

Idlewild apparatus and interlocal funding: Staff said Idlewild donated or transferred approximately $1.5 million worth of apparatus and equipment to the town, addressing critical maintenance needs. Commissioner Garner asked how much funding was provided to Idlewild under the current budget; staff said current-year funding to Idlewild was roughly $335,000 and that a full-year estimate would be about $425,000. The board discussed prior coordination with neighboring jurisdictions on station construction and shared services.

Context and implications: Staff said the overall fire department budget increased by approximately 2.3%—a figure staff described as lower than many cost-of-living benchmarks given added personnel and apparatus. Commissioners acknowledged the public-safety rationale for the expenditures but asked for comparisons showing what services and coverage would have looked like had the board not approved prior tax increases or the current staffing plan.

Next steps: No formal budget vote occurred at the discussion; commissioners requested documentation on line-item impacts and what service levels would be under alternative funding scenarios.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting (Budget Workshop) - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Officials described FY26 fire-department budget increases tied to new hires, merit raises and equipment additions from Idlewild; commissioners probed what the department would look like without recent funding increases.","taxTitle","Matthews, Union County, North Carolina","taxId",56171,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235864,"Board discusses Crestdale/Charles Street improvements, stormwater and parks maintenance staffing",0,3297640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078&start=3297&end=3297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078/thumbnail_3297640.jpg","/articles/6235864/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Board-discusses-CrestdaleCharles-Street-improvements-stormwater-and-parks-maintenance-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235864-e2c563efa8fd81efc0e3618ec82e138d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141215&Signature=hccIyEhpsB3IQ33glLh7YORnnHIc7kys4LGwOeBo1WisDt8m9FySh~cNPQl4SumLyf0vaDI4nii6aUnFeFSMaFxgoHntk~pZqLkUayijNvHnuY8Nqr~fJmOx-Nn~qFVvmO5HjCaCRGXsaCk7qFb3GCDyYAgS6Qg~5iovvASRa-whUZtUHworEF5FJ9ZRmUdOmVuy1CbUAPpZxCAKHauLLIAoRv4Tt6ifSTdgdNmcWW0571ryWwwvhvSdaE3c2RiJPbJIMRfHu7X7BCjjRXzxpvC5TSdrix~~EweB~LyyQv6F3e42pyp88vSKAs20CepUAj-TNcG9PN3Rv9FE3lbqIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works staff described safety and stormwater improvements planned for the Crestdale and Charles Street area and said the project includes a stormwater pipe upgrade and road-safety work. Commissioners raised Crestdale as a safety priority and asked whether that project could be funded without issuing new bonds.

Public works manager CJ explained the Crestdale improvements will include stormwater drainage upgrades through the area. The project also intends to reduce steep grades created over time near the railroad crossing, which staff said exacerbates truck hang-ups and ponding. CJ said grade and retaining-wall work would be required for a gentler, safer approach.

Parks maintenance and staffing: Staff explained they are creating a comprehensive maintenance plan to assess man-hours, equipment needs and whether the town should create a dedicated parks maintenance division or expand public‑works staff with park-dedicated positions. Public works said the tipping point for hiring additional staff is tied to anticipated park acreage and the level of manicuring the board wants; staff suggested FY27 as a likely target to request new positions rather than FY26.

Maintenance approach: Commissioners recommended exploring low-maintenance landscaping such as meadows and signage to communicate intentional meadow areas; staff confirmed this has been used and was generally well received. The landscape manager’s priorities include pruning a downtown tree quadrant annually; staff said tree-maintenance work is included in the FY26 budget line for tree maintenance.

Funding options: During the debt-service conversation commissioners suggested using fund balance to pay for Crestdale as a one-time project rather than bonding the work; staff agreed to include Crestdale and other one-time projects in the fund-balance scenarios they will return with for the next work session.","Staff described planned stormwater and safety improvements for Crestdale/Charles Street and a broader parks-maintenance plan that could require new staff. Commissioners discussed low‑maintenance landscaping and timing for adding parks maintenance personnel.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235869,"Board debates tourism‑fund rules after requests tied to Matthews Alive and Festival of India",676,4118730,4795160,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078&start=4118&end=4795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078/thumbnail_4118730.jpg","/articles/6235869/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Board-debates-tourismfund-rules-after-requests-tied-to-Matthews-Alive-and-Festival-of-India","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235869-abee5c6433280aeef262515cca1ee461/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141215&Signature=DVZND50sAE3dDuAV7LX~uSYiHz2iB7bJmXQqsFqvy9yg6urBqfQB41i7w9TYurPI5cBcqZbAhaTmAKoCy-prluKJIWXHKXfOgBPysCTM-BY3G9KLSAxYPn6K6SSrHY7ClsjOZYUeEA8-fKetIKTtkzBzSECtPTApGfosG48zk8lF5tfkAkNaPBjvxIbWrThR9HThSINrAjVZmGv1K~lstw6Dk51COtBB-58B-~PuRCKIsqI6uhUS9i2W6eGEzVKYcKCrgstMCjUbUmkejL86YpTbq3HGbtt~eIAGalqdzTP360a~34jsawWPwxkeDQkTlcc24uBe8eC~4RPWpIzrCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners examined how tourism funds and town resources support privately run events such as Matthews Alive and Festival of India and debated whether the town should continue that support, require event organizers to pay full costs, or channel funds differently.

How the funds work: Town staff explained the tourism fund is intended to cover costs for signature-event park spaces and to offset special-event expenses when revenues do not fully cover overtime and other direct costs. Becky Hall said event revenues (for example, park rental fees) go into the general fund but are tracked so the town can reimburse shortfalls from the tourism fund; “no property taxes ever pay for special events,” she said, describing the current accounting mechanism used to keep special events neutral to the general fund.

Positions on support: Commissioner Tufano argued private nonprofits should pay all costs for events that are not town sponsored and recommended the town “divorce” itself from private events. He proposed using the statutory ability to award tourism grants to nonprofits, giving them funds but requiring they pay all vendor and municipal costs, and then treat returned revenues as general-fund receipts to be used broadly. Town staff and other commissioners cautioned this is primarily an accounting change: if the town pays overtime or other services for an event, that expense exists regardless of whether revenue flows through tourism accounts; simply reclassifying revenue would not create new discretionary funds.

Staff detail and next steps: Hall reported that overtime associated with Matthews Alive has been placed in a tourism contingency line this year, and direct funding for Matthews Alive (changed by state law) is likewise held in contingency pending the board’s policy decision. Staff said Matthews Alive representatives will speak to the board on June 23 and the board can take a formal vote on funding in July. Hall recommended that if the board wants to change the funding approach, the conversation be formalized as a separate action item so the board can decide policy rather than treat it as an FY26 budget line-item question.","Commissioners argued over whether and how the town should fund private nonprofit events; staff explained tourism-fund mechanics and said event-related overtime is currently offset through a tourism contingency line.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235873,"Matthews commissioners debate technology allowance, equity and optics",953,166110,1119980,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078&start=166&end=1119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078/thumbnail_166110.jpg","/articles/6235873/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Matthews-commissioners-debate-technology-allowance-equity-and-optics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235873-74c3633dd9154eaf910a5aae9951aa75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141215&Signature=hPg5gQR9D8FC65D7weKpLKw6fNAWdchTctCA6dpbUSIGZUOopK8XtAfK6enjcxtFvwrvC7OB3TH4Rc8WP1woQoV6eWmDgW7Hc-nu6eebsdbXH0oO98BMMCyChZ1nuCTC3CfEl3ftLWqPYAdQIc058hHClxXhXkXJaAZ0TRtXBsOCrFv7H~Ffv0kPHiil6VlT1bvebjkJYNOe0NaN5E5PWmtq8XEgw80WoXsdq5MJpZw8X63Lf4RTUcxfy7vB7stnfJKVHCuy8BsTUsVWuLS-VCnyp1pbrbn5PrmnUqE8XjGV8bAhllyw3SMi2k5pHGV0nRm5O6vnF7dvuptFL-2X7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners debated whether to keep, reduce or eliminate the board’s technology allowance, a recurring item in the FY26 general-fund discussion.

Background and figures: Town staff provided a historical spreadsheet showing term totals for commissioner technology reimbursements. Town Manager Becky Hall summarized that past terms saw varying uptake and that the board had proposed $8,000 in the FY26 budget for technology allowance (board-level aggregate); the current term had spent $1,500 so far. Several commissioners said the allowance is modest in the context of the overall $37.6 million proposed general-fund budget; others said it creates poor optics after recent tax increases.

Arguments for retention: Commissioner Garner said the allowance “allows people who may not be able to serve an office an opportunity to purchase technology that they wouldn't be able to purchase otherwise,” arguing it supports socioeconomic diversity on the board. Several commissioners said they use town business phones and computers extensively and that replacing and licensing equipment has recurring costs.

Arguments for change: Commissioner Tufano, citing recent tax increases, called the allowance a gift and urged removal. Commissioner Tafano proposed that the town provide equipment on loan for the term and reclaim devices at the end, avoiding what he called the perception of a “gift.” Commissioner Threep and others proposed lowering the cap or shifting to a town‑owned device program; town staff noted that provisioning town-owned laptops and phones for every commissioner and maintaining them over time would cost more than the current allowance.

Staff options and next steps: Town staff offered these concrete policy alternatives for the board to consider separately from the budget paperwork: (1) keep the allowance as-is, (2) reduce the per-term cap (examples discussed: $1,500–$2,000), (3) have the town issue loaner computers/phones that are returned at term end, or (4) increase commissioner salary and remove the allowance. Staff also proposed tightening the policy to define eligible items (computer, printer, software, phone-related expenses) to reduce past abuses. The board did not adopt a final change and asked staff to prepare an updated policy and to bring precise cost comparisons for town-provisioned hardware to a future meeting.","Board members disagreed over a $3,600 per-term technology allowance for commissioners, weighing equity, optics after tax increases, and alternatives including town‑owned loaner equipment or a reduced cap.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235878,"Matthews officials dissect new bond debt-service and options to limit tax increase",2166,69980,2236830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078&start=69&end=2236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396680-eb2011b935a8e8d7f98b24f37ade1078/thumbnail_69980.jpg","/articles/6235878/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Matthews-officials-dissect-new-bond-debt-service-and-options-to-limit-tax-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235878-c522a454427dc85b0b44a9838e37eaa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141215&Signature=HxHLUyZJ3otrqz-ju3iJi6WtyrIitLinKSxVi95AiS3bgf2VpAYoVcUelmE~uyU~KBOgHpSBnkpB2qv7Y-KBQ9i~A1tbNpBop1oWGHCVsf3sYixBSlWDXUSd13VovtxA~eJNls~TTRZLiuWmGLKRsCtXPSzs5iY8rR2uAlgO83aHNCUbUkFmOuPXocQB~5Ank6eWWM9Pyxd5hD3eO2mMP6HiyU4I5N~pEGdXgQb6EZB269FVFQCaWiI9tnbha1yIanHYl9VgnfWgHAJA-daZoaW8jgtbT3V3hptsDeJdFQHFTtSr2BeWv-z5NcdP7CRuGqgx6ZCz1J2eOrc9~tWkvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Becky Hall and finance staff laid out how the town’s recently sold bonds will affect Matthews’ operating budget and tax rate, while commissioners pressed staff for options to avoid or delay a proposed tax increase.

The immediate figures presented to the Board of Commissioners included an estimated $909,254 annual payment for the new bond and a staff-calculated “total cost to service the new bond debt” of $1,812,000 in the current plan. Hall told commissioners the town had committed to bring a budget in which “the only tax increase that the citizens would see if we move forward with the bonds would be to pay the debt service on the bonds.”

The stakes and the math mattered to commissioners. Commissioner Threep asked for a line-by-line breakdown of principal and interest and how it translated into the 1.3‑cent tax increase discussed by the board. Finance staff clarified the town is paying both principal and interest in the coming fiscal year and that the interest portion will change annually. Teresa (staff member) gave the figure for the new bond component as $909,254 and said, “The total cost to service the new bond debt is 1,812,000.”

Why it matters: Commissioners asked whether the town could avoid the tax increase by using fund balance (one-time dollars) or cutting recurring costs. Hall and finance staff advised caution. Hall said using one-time fund balance to pay an ongoing debt-service obligation is “not a best practice” because it merely postpones the obligation and risks putting the town into a deficit in future years. She offered instead to prepare a conservative estimate of expected year-end fund balance for the board and return with scenarios that show (a) how much fund balance would have to be used to offset the bond-related tax increase for one year and (b) trade-offs for operations if the board instead chose to use recurring savings.

Discussion highlights: Commissioners suggested options including delaying vehicle leases, reducing some recurring line items, or applying excess fund balance to a one-time project instead of reducing the tax burden. Commissioner Urban noted that delaying recurring purchases could create service or safety impacts (for example, the police fleet replacement cycle) and that cutting recurring costs of the magnitude required would be difficult without broader operational impacts.

Next steps: Staff agreed to deliver a conservative fund-balance estimate and at least one “what-if” scenario in time for the next budget work session so the board can decide whether to (a) accept the proposed tax rate tied to bond debt-service or (b) use one-time resources to reduce or delay the increase. The board voted later in the meeting to move into a closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(6).","Town staff and commissioners reviewed bond-related debt-service numbers, discussed a proposed tax increase tied to the bonds, and asked staff to model fund-balance options that could reduce or defer the tax impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town staff say fire budget rose for staffing, apparatus and post‑probation raises; Idlewild support explained

Board discusses Crestdale/Charles Street improvements, stormwater and parks maintenance staffing

Board debates tourism‑fund rules after requests tied to Matthews Alive and Festival of India

Matthews commissioners debate technology allowance, equity and optics

Matthews officials dissect new bond debt-service and options to limit tax increase