[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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",6221331,"mediaKeyId","3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec","parentId",3614552,"title","Matthews board hears FY2025–26 budget with 1.3¢ tax increase to start repaying $11M parks bond","audioSeconds",10211,"startMs",36790,"endMs",10248391,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec&start=36&end=10248","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec/thumbnail_36790.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221331/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Matthews-board-hears-FY202526-budget-with-13-tax-increase-to-start-repaying-11M-parks-bond","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221331-24f566e90569d2904ee1fef2f4297a03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113525&Signature=S-sECnIFi6nUjC~0BpRfaHY6Q1N~DkDspdjB~7efyr6vGElI-1objcAS19oGglBxiH0E7kWVx2AIsR-Sduo3jsPGAOOHF81j9ccvfrf0t7Tiu30Gq-d24n0iRxx-luquQDVhAnnSpXxdcn~QRF1yu3Jt1zWa6z9~UD1oMhjF6KTeka31SzeIy4KNJpKmO~HHH8brsi7LmKyd1yhbqp5zvvKTV5QYpY~OQSwgcyD9at8VAQDpbHX9XDHwp7GcrsW-Hg~S0QLNK2adaKK-1CSeaXblQRAI6QFm11fFWPDsdrnruQJQ-43xvDSNKDJwHV3l~zO7uwM9ugT71cHORsYmlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T15:52:25Z","article","The Matthews Board of Commissioners on May 27 heard the town manager'recommended FY2025'26 budget that would add 1.3 cents to the property tax rate to begin repaying an $11 million general obligation bond for parks and related improvements.

Town Manager Becky Hawk presented the recommended budget, saying the 1.3¢ would raise the tax rate to 27.95¢ per $100 of assessed value and is specifically allocated to debt service on the bond issued in April to fund park design and construction. \"When you add the 1.3¢ to it, that will bring it to 27.95¢ per hundred,\" Hawk said, explaining the tax impact for the average Matthews home (assessed at $429,275) would be about $55.81 a year, or $4.65 a month.

Hawk also told the board the budget includes a stormwater fee increase approved earlier by the board (tiered by impervious area) and a combined 6% employee compensation pool made up of a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a 3% merit pool. \"Maintaining market competitiveness is very important to us,\" she said.

Commissioners spent more than two hours debating tradeoffs in the budget. Commissioner Ken McCool emphasized the value of a larger \"rainy day\" or unassigned fund balance as a disaster-response tool, citing an example of a neighboring jurisdiction that used reserves to repair a storm-damaged bridge quickly. \"Having that is able to deploy those funds immediately...is incredibly important,\" McCool said.

Other debate focused on special-events costs and the tourism fund. Commissioner Richard Tufano proposed a plan to funnel tourism/special-events funding through an outside nonprofit that would run festivals as an independent organization and use tourism funds to pay event costs. Tufano argued that if the nonprofit paid for event services directly (police, fire, power, rentals), the town could receive net revenue back into the general fund. Several commissioners and staff pushed back, noting the town already spends tourism dollars and in-kind public safety costs in ways that largely offset any expected net gain.

Finance and staff detail: the manager'recommended budget shows the town expects a modest decrease of about $1,460,000 in projected fund balance for the current fiscal year, and staff explained the town's adopted policy calls for maintaining at least 34% of available fund balance (and a goal of 34% unassigned). Finance staff projected available fund balance of about $14.5 million, of which $12.3 million is unassigned; that leaves the unassigned balance roughly $1.1 million below the unassigned 34% goal but about $1 million above the state minimum category the Local Government Commission uses for towns of Matthews's size.

Several commissioners pushed for detailed, item-level cuts if colleagues opposed the tax increase. \"If you want to lower taxes or get out of a deficit...you have to cut things or find additional revenues,\" said Commissioner Mark Defano. Others said the town's revenue drivers (notably strong local sales tax year-to-date and higher-than-budgeted investment earnings) made the recommended package feasible now and cautioned against relying on one-time interest earnings as permanent resources.

Staff and board agreed to continue budget work at an upcoming June 2 work session and to circulate proposed substantive changes by email beforehand. No final vote to adopt the FY2025'26 budget was taken on May 27; the public hearing concluded and the board reconvened its regular meeting.

Ending: Board members asked staff to prepare scenarios showing cuts or alternatives (including a hypothetical example of Tufano's festival outsourcing model for a single event) to be reviewed at the next work session so the commission could evaluate whether any portion of the proposed tax increase could be reduced.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Matthews Board of Commissioners on May 27 reviewed a manager'recommended FY2025'26 budget that includes a proposed 1.3¢ property tax increase to begin repaying an $11 million general obligation bond for parks, a stormwater fee rise, and a compensation pool equaling up to 6% for employees.","taxTitle","Matthews, Union County, North Carolina","taxId",56171,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6221313,"Board to consider, then defer, memo of understanding for CMS colocation of Discovery Place Kids and new Matthews Elementary in downtown park",1225,11676346,12901645,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec&start=11676&end=12901","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec/thumbnail_11676346.jpg","/articles/6221313/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Board-to-consider-then-defer-memo-of-understanding-for-CMS-colocation-of-Discovery-Place-Kids-and-new-Matthews-Elementary-in-downtown-park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221313-58ea8516e12b99ee2368e0b48c9dc994/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113524&Signature=oa4Ixoz8yH3dBbgyKxx~9aJ4TjhmqR9Orrgli7yQbprmFlSDRfL0uf1BxD92~-y2qOR8xyGcuihTZUGSH0i7iSj8BE4aiTAmBe7XR9HRnGgUYgVy4NqTGumefg0zDG-d1R7zXnbkrHwOtwHNgg8j3x5l236VsBJw79Rlnxgk8fNdoajrb7ETnQwu8nA~4SjsxjzGwhRJZ7UVY4Nnxvh47wR6SnEd6gi~8uXHJSjcIXpc8KvIUDqCqBBKn00xEUpeUmH4~z8Oa0kHxHqhshgAc1eE4-gvdQyjI2iEEYvhVIoNGZfprP76F7M8-nA8~Pnrj7vYvXcmSvlug7nyKgcT9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a master joint-use agreement May 27 describing a potential land swap with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (CMS) that would colocate Discovery Place Kids and a rebuilt Matthews Elementary near downtown trade street and create an enlarged park on the old elementary site.

Town Manager Becky Hawk told the board the concept would create a duplex-style building with separate, secure entrances for the elementary school and the children's museum, and the town'owned park parcel at the former school would be redesigned as a signature park. The recommendation included that CMS accept responsibility for maintaining the building systems (roof, HVAC) while the town would maintain grounds and stormwater responsibilities.

Staff emphasized that the land-swap details require a survey and appraisal before the swap can be finalized and that notification and statutory requirements for property transfers and school relocations remain. The board also discussed access and traffic questions, particularly effects on Sadie Drive and East McDowell, and staff said a transportation impact analysis would be required and would inform access design, stacking and queuing on-site, and potential traffic-control measures.

Commissioner John Urban moved to defer action and asked commissioners to send any substantive edits to staff by the end of the business day Friday so staff and CMS could review changes before the June 9 meeting. The board voted to defer consideration to June 9.

Ending: Staff will continue to coordinate with CMS on the MOU and joint-use agreement, finalize the survey and appraisal, and present a revised draft to the board at the June 9 meeting; no land transfer or construction approvals were completed May 27.","The board reviewed a draft memorandum of understanding with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for colocation of a Discovery Place Kids exhibit with a new Matthews Elementary and a larger signature park, then deferred action to June 9 for additional review and survey/appraisal work.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6221317,"Matthews Historical Foundation reports rising museum attendance, new artifacts and program expansion",2857,3553875,6411335,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec&start=3553&end=6411","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec/thumbnail_3553875.jpg","/articles/6221317/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Matthews-Historical-Foundation-reports-rising-museum-attendance-new-artifacts-and-program-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221317-393437535a010cb4fa9734081fc811bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113524&Signature=TSz3I-2V4cr2LfnAHJxru7x5rBwVFoNCy-KbKbLr6-57KpXfhrW-QlKditLMFeQBJc~CNVsvXPuQ2S1vCC9U9EqyKKB-GPq-hkB5X35n6tARxbZcQkOnLv0-6h~S8AvqK13AaBrbTWNXYQzMAoV6ksUWq1fZNZSKItvUwdeTE5TOFdqx3AhOXI4S1-fRDE1-gfDfMpxKj4o4VLpAgPi9w~BW1TRYsfo8h~xpGN3Ejm-eyyqLWnvvtrOwLZW8EbQ8Fc4~SsaBzNEOjL~V4doegPp2lF3Xyu2R7eytQleIu9AFOFGSKnR2jihn1nPtpig5xauiu9dTDeY-zpDzuLsSdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bob Aycock, vice president of the Matthews Historical Foundation and director of the Matthews Heritage Museum, told the Board of Commissioners on May 27 the museum's attendance has increased 43% year-to-date compared with the previous year and monthly visits average more than 200.

Aycock described recent acquisitions and projects: a historic Piedmont Wagon Company hickory wagon donated and moved into the Reid House carriage house with volunteer assistance; new board members; and a William Pomeroy Foundation-funded historic marker for the Matthews Depot that staff expect to install soon after coordination with Public Works. Aycock said the museum expects to announce a formal unveiling once the marker is installed.

The museum has added programming and expanded outreach to schools, daycare groups, and seniors; new walking and driving tours have proven popular, and the museum is participating in an inter-museum \"Miles for Museums\" passport program. Aycock said volunteers and new docents are growing the museum's capacity and that the museum may expand open days to meet demand.

Volunteer Michael Meath and museum docent staff noted the museum's family-focused, living-history approach and recent finds for cemetery tours (an older grave dated to October 1862) as examples of active archival work that continues to attract visitors. Staff also referenced a veterans exhibit and newly catalogued World War I and World War II items on display.

Ending: The foundation thanked the town for ongoing support and said it will return to the board with any requests for assistance if the museum pursues expanded hours or program funding.

","The Matthews Historical Foundation and Matthews Heritage Museum told commissioners May 27 that attendance is up about 43% year-to-date and that the organization has new donations, an installed historic marker for the depot and plans for expanded tours and programs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6221322,"Town staff say Hampton Green yard flooding followed rare back-to-back storms; culvert adequate, repairs done to pipe",180,6219065,6399825,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec&start=6219&end=6399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec/thumbnail_6219065.jpg","/articles/6221322/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Town-staff-say-Hampton-Green-yard-flooding-followed-rare-back-to-back-storms-culvert-adequate-repairs-done-to-pipe","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221322-89d4c407717d0e63d486bf31f1a3315f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113524&Signature=hVJVI3NiTqOwRGeGpJw167Wce-wwpQMoX7qlBwB85bBrfGCLeQyxckWt~c~7lqXtdVSoa7J~j5bvANhpdODjwcqszJ1mfjwte1VjoVsZ~233EvW0xoYM8S766AHjglMarqP5WbHQJydPDPokGpgPBbjgM6Rn94A9HELFrynK70yoSYjlF3N29iqOMOKs9KzN0~jxj7ZqmOtUr7uhhHbpe0UBDGRkVKbkn6-R2u7NSE18W1dhmZqFPTJ5taHwz7~Mu784EAesx7W5k9z~iqz8hL8wjmhFUbAn0-WOHITJD3UgZbWx~Qe48eXdskMvu8kLhmyPDKXacHWJIY~GrUl9CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff updated the Board of Commissioners May 27 on a hydrology and hydraulics study of Hampton Green following flooding in 2024.

Public Works staff explained the study found the culvert under Whitefriars Lane was adequately sized for a 200-year storm and that recent on-site repairs addressed identified structural issues. The consultant concluded the most likely cause of the flooding was a sequence of unusually large, back-to-back storms that exceeded the 25-year and in one instance the 100-year event while the ground was already saturated, producing more runoff than the low-lying areas could accommodate.

Staff tested several potential responses. Dredging the downstream pond would increase storage but would not materially reduce the flooding experienced in the yards where water overtopped banks, the consultant told the board. Redefining tributary channels would also have limited benefit: \"Streams tend to carve out what they need, and it has already dropped the stream bank by about 3 feet at the bottom of the stream,\" the consultant said, so the channel had already widened to carry the flows seen.

Sanitary-sewer cleanouts that were observed under water in the incident were raised as a health concern. Staff told residents any detection of fecal coliform or sewage indicators should trigger immediate contact with town utilities for inspection and testing; elevated manhole covers and sealed cleanouts can reduce risk. The town also pointed residents to a potential state-administered stream-bank restoration program through the county conservation district that may be able to help restore eroded private stream banks on eligible properties.

Staff said much of the erosion and bank instability is on private property, limiting what the town can unilaterally do; staff said they will coordinate with residents and the conservation district to pursue mitigation grants and best-practice solutions.

Ending: Staff committed to follow up with Hampton Green residents, coordinate further testing if sanitary systems are compromised, and to notify property owners of options through conservation programs and potential private fixes that avoid creating downstream impacts.","A hydrologic study presented May 27 found the culvert under Whitefriars Lane is sized for a 200-year storm and recommended no dredging of the downstream pond to mitigate the May 2024 flooding; staff said back-to-back large storms and saturated ground caused localized flooding that overwhelmed low-lying yards.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6221326,"Matthews commissioners debate outsourcing festivals and how tourism dollars flow as budget talks continue",852,1260565,2113235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec&start=1260&end=2113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614552-c07176b6c5e761f625d64ddb3721adec/thumbnail_1260565.jpg","/articles/6221326/Matthews/Union-County/North-Carolina/Matthews-commissioners-debate-outsourcing-festivals-and-how-tourism-dollars-flow-as-budget-talks-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221326-b816329354b04313cc9a61cf81336c29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113524&Signature=knPRBNNWbWMwWx-dN5RAJPqD1EUPhFqgPP1x9rn~KgyYdQXH0u~r0UGxDFAb~cFE0ZgkozcZJDU1fRfqxQU9Y3cmwxavF20T3iHRKrwDtAawTMJGS5Te0-m7U8DmC0io2rmtOCaxYUqLDLp7EdtBukUVPpLxPRwl0CG96OYKKqL2vSclA94wR2uUDR1AWJkPJhh3qqnPiwweG66ArcBpzSk0ImJW-L6EKTNZtld7D9SsANNAp6RHyXLeRfPY4u5PKr-gDwnQjeVzp73EvDZGHrpUgXK4L-1b3nDJLW9upQSc6Mimj1BDm1B7jSqnpQ5a7Yensdct9rZZ~kaSSTGxkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Richard Tufano proposed on May 27 that Matthews direct tourism funds to a nonprofit that would run festivals independently and pay for event costs (security, utilities, rentals) with tourism funds. He said that model, used by his Ciao Italia event, could generate returned revenue to the town if the nonprofit kept event sales and then remitted surplus to the general fund.

Town staff explained how tourism and special-events accounting currently works. Special-events and community center revenues are tracked in the general fund but are effectively supported by the town'managed tourism transfer at year end; staff said those lines historically run a net deficit and are topped off from the tourism fund so that net cost to general fund property-tax dollars is zero. \"The special events budget is not supported by tax dollars. It is self supporting through its own revenues and tourism dollars,\" staff said.

Finance staff warned the board the bookkeeping change Tufano proposed would not automatically free up general fund dollars. If the town outsourced event services and continued to pay the tourism funds to an outside group, tourism dollars could instead flow directly to that entity (for example, paying an external security provider), and the town would not necessarily receive a net financial benefit. \"If they hired Mint Hill (officers), the money would just be going in one direction to Mint Hill... Either way, our tourism fund has spent a hundred and 30 thousand,\" staff said.

Opponents raised non-financial concerns: Commissioner Renee Garner and others argued festivals are community assets where residents interact with police, firefighters and civic leaders, and community value could be reduced if the events were fully privatized. Garner said such events support local nonprofits (sale proceeds and volunteer-run booths). Staff noted a pending internal change that will require previously outside, off-duty town employees to be paid through town payroll rather than directly by event promoters; that administrative shift changes how event overtime and related pension/retirement contributions are handled.

The board asked staff to run an apples-to-apples example comparing the current internal model to the proposed outsourced nonprofit model for one festival (for example, Matthews Alive); staff agreed to present a comparative scenario at a future meeting.

","During the May 27 budget hearing commissioners discussed a proposal to move special-event operations to an outside nonprofit funded by tourism dollars, and staff explained how tourism, special-events and parks revenues are currently accounted for and transferred into the general fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Matthews board hears FY2025–26 budget with 1.3¢ tax increase to start repaying $11M parks bond

Board to consider, then defer, memo of understanding for CMS colocation of Discovery Place Kids and new Matthews Elementary in downtown park

Matthews Historical Foundation reports rising museum attendance, new artifacts and program expansion

Town staff say Hampton Green yard flooding followed rare back-to-back storms; culvert adequate, repairs done to pipe

Matthews commissioners debate outsourcing festivals and how tourism dollars flow as budget talks continue