[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6034467,"mediaKeyId","5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50","parentId",5165857,"title","City manager presents FY2026 proposed budget; council opens public hearing and schedules adoption","audioSeconds",1041,"startMs",8909000,"endMs",9950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50&start=8909&end=9950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50/thumbnail_8909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6034467/Gastonia/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/City-manager-presents-FY2026-proposed-budget-council-opens-public-hearing-and-schedules-adoption","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034467-c0a1b6dc23ce657e5e085b9761bab4d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202241&Signature=RmIA7vdRtTiwhV3qZF3w4p88-oTuuoKbz6D3MDURofnoedbWCTV~tHEG59p4l3e-nnCsWP3JuzLkfqU0zHjaH6co82ppH-ShZFNNlnAqNP~Y94532JkafzazTHUjF5i9pWx7ZjKrkAtvzQhNADx5FGBnh~NletrdfhTuLDGtf2aYq26JDAQXERKOEEhIFtBrYgnZnX0EfUtlpRfL~-KNqIoEz~fV-eicOqnv~36Cn97I1XfyNyBFn19JQrryBtmp~zczpss~rG1hRrFUExsZHh4rHl6AHTNV~h-ivAFOOa1j2T~I0dnm7wLHZxnq3QGguuOQgj0vyoEv4PNW42UF3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Gastonia NC","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented the proposed city budget for the coming fiscal year, and the council opened the public hearing on the plan.

The city manager and budget staff described a proposal that maintains the current property tax rate at $0.47 per $100 of assessed value and does not use an appropriation of fund balance. The draft budget sets aside a compensation pool equal to a 4% across‑the‑board increase that would take effect in January 2026 and continues a career development incentive program. Staff also noted higher employer retirement costs, increased transit and micro-transit funding needs, and higher equipment replacement costs. The presentation said the adopted proposed budget is lean and that staff reduced the initial requests by more than $5.7 million during development.

The fee schedule in the proposed budget includes a 5% increase in water and sewer rates (a prior phase at 7.5% was already implemented) and other fee adjustments at the Shield Museum, airport, fire department and in planning and engineering fees tied to a cost-recovery approach.

Staff said the proposed citywide budget decreased from the current fiscal year total by roughly $12.7 million when certain grant and capital figures are compared across budgets, and explained that fluctuations reflect changing grant awards and capital construction timing rather than ongoing operating cuts.

Council opened the public hearing on the proposed budget to receive public comment; council members discussed whether to keep the hearing open until the June adoption meeting to allow additional public input, and ultimately proceeded with the standard public‑hearing process. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for the council’s June meeting. Staff said the document has been available to the public online and that additional public-comment opportunities will be available before adoption.

The presenter noted staff will continue to refine position-classification and compensation details within the approved compensation pool, and directed departments to prepare for implementation consistent with council policy priorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting | May 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the proposed fiscal-year budget, holding the tax rate steady and proposing employee pay adjustments. Council opened a public hearing and accepted public comment opportunities; the budget is scheduled for adoption at a future council meeting.","taxTitle","Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina","taxId",4854,"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},6034471,"Council selects Oak and Willow Builders to develop Highland lots; debate centers on affordability",1777,3599000,5376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50&start=3599&end=5376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50/thumbnail_3599000.jpg","/articles/6034471/Gastonia/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Council-selects-Oak-and-Willow-Builders-to-develop-Highland-lots-debate-centers-on-affordability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034471-7c98688cfedba7a43e1d780790fed903/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202242&Signature=K~K4wpB12iZKisBDqu2qm-pjHSRqyXEeDCKY~FDe9Os~TJYnnLMTC9kNm7h2DymELKll3eOajTDkLENRHbPBxk7Qu1EazW24~msklkiSE~2ajxB1RZWqbWxfkfaYQ4c0H1JhlPM9BKIGqM0snNhHfAb3shu1GbbsesUrdekwAPNkeTA0g-Fwo9VOXRzuAJZHhFBSU7U~nntXf2lzuGguLm3n4nzrRTx7tjccYzTd~abAlEaoLLlPbVBfyAT2lwvRQi0ijGfyQUAUFnXrvELaEnILBxD1UKprSQNaLvtF5rvrRCQfBGcrDtfTH5HMbHZDcSCIUzAgPZzVaPIa0UtCiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gastonia City Council voted to accept a development proposal from Oak and Willow Builders for a bundle of Highland-area lots after the housing committee recommended the selection based on staff scoring.

Oak and Willow’s proposal listed resale prices in the $230,000 to $300,000 range and offered a 20‑ to 30‑year affordability period for the homes — a feature staff and committee members characterized as an innovative approach to long-term affordability and community stabilization. Staff told the council that Oak and Willow scored highest under the evaluation rubric because of the long affordability commitment and design approach, although the proposal’s projected resale price was higher than competing submissions.

Council discussion turned to whether the price range would be affordable to longtime neighborhood residents and workforce households. Several council members urged that the city work with lenders and housing counseling to stack down-payment assistance and other financing tools so potential buyers could access homes even when contract prices appear above the local median. Others pressed for alternative approaches that would expand non‑traditional financing or partnerships that might directly subsidize lower resale prices.

After debate, the council voted 6–1 to move forward with Oak and Willow Builders as the selected developer. Council members said final agreements would include affordability deed restrictions and that the specific financing and buyer-selection mechanics would be confirmed in later development agreements. Staff said some lots would be combined to accommodate duplex or small multifamily structures where appropriate, and noted that site conditions on some lots could make construction costs higher than in other parts of the city.

Council members and staff said additional outreach and housing-counseling services would be made available to potential buyers; staff also noted that programmatic down-payment assistance and state and federal mortgage programs could lower the effective purchase price for qualified buyers.","Gastonia picked Oak and Willow Builders to develop bundled Highland-proposal lots after staff evaluation. Oak and Willow proposed resale prices of $230,000–$300,000 with extended affordability periods (20–30 years). Council debate centered on whether those resale prices meet local affordability objectives.",{"_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},6034476,"Council updates downtown facade grant rules, keeps 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible",1079,2003000,3082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50&start=2003&end=3082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50/thumbnail_2003000.jpg","/articles/6034476/Gastonia/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Council-updates-downtown-facade-grant-rules-keeps-501c3-nonprofits-eligible","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034476-c0f10f5b4ae758ab5b98bc744c59b5ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202242&Signature=Cgi9mu7B~HkAAdQ9mRvYZCNxSxOs9WmhteKadQ9l~I1t1HsplZn4LoCjkRRV70GTKOG6v2c4JH9uQOq3fzxbYWolP-Xk4JmKC6fG5sKc-AIbDw3A1eUxtyjsW~tszruUl0-cFkNAd5mxlHAWKloTUmFPTxkxvjvMgcQz7DkUBvOvbX06SBblUXE5wG3qITJN-MmEMGMKwkESutvWvnVu7asROlB7tRjedyT3UIcRTRIpFXkTdRUzQk~szap6QMzZCYgbE36vNkx9LcOLaiXbHhNoqGyFU6LmbfmRl6atE-i1XU7TmPAMEDgK0zf5Tnkl32jCh0sjaDLUZ6FMoH4FKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gastonia City Council voted to adopt updates to the Municipal Services District (MSD) facade and architectural grant program after the Central City Revitalization and Housing Community Engagement Committee recommended changes.

Key changes approved by the council include a required wet (ink) signature on grant applications (in addition to electronic submissions), a requirement that approved work commence within 90 days, and a 12‑month completion deadline or a return to council for extension. The committee also clarified that facade grants do not transfer automatically when ownership changes; new owners must apply for separate grants.

Committee members and staff discussed whether to exclude 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from eligibility. After deliberation the committee recommended that nonprofits remain eligible if the property owner pays into the MSD tax base; two nonprofit-owned properties in the MSD had already received grants previously. Staff explained the grant is a reimbursement program and that applicants must supply proof of required permits with their applications.

Council vote: the resolution updating the grant guidelines passed 5–2. Staff noted the grant application window opens July 1 each fiscal year and grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Council members asked staff to continue outreach so eligible property owners — particularly small businesses — are aware of the program and application steps.

Officials said the program’s purpose is to enhance the public-facing (exterior) appearance of buildings in the MSD and the surrounding public realm; interior work is not eligible. The committee and council retained flexibility to revisit eligibility rules in future if community feedback indicates problems.","The council approved committee-recommended changes to the Municipal Services District (MSD) facade and architectural grant program, adding application process clarifications while retaining eligibility for certain nonprofits. The update introduces wet-signature requirements, start/completion time limits and reimbursement procedures.",{"_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},6034481,"Gastonia approves $2.66 million municipal agreement with NCDOT for I‑85 aesthetic betterments",1310,7402000,8712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50&start=7402&end=8712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50/thumbnail_7402000.jpg","/articles/6034481/Gastonia/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Gastonia-approves-266-million-municipal-agreement-with-NCDOT-for-I85-aesthetic-betterments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034481-40faf1e33efb1a0c7ef57ba8bf53ae7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202242&Signature=n5sEAb8SQTvq0AQNTMZcg545xkFY~QGNopSAW58iCoovoQFB8R-EJ2j2RyxLTD9gnPJ6wCZ3Odt8FBXPh0EG87Y7ihN3dW-sStyTFZRWgpwq6eZNud9YHHo9d3LCA4BNzhWgERirGZsD-37ZrSVlhtwC~pD85IRfotG6vAEuj7V3UarzOtFB0asb10Ghi92CLJvQkCW9c55ZrqmcodoD7sQsilitsa83BqIFG2RcJ0Rhvl6p2ZRURgm9XTUiUe010WQur0sTm-5j2B2ZzWCt-XCi4o45eyoBftCRCzDv3P9C-9oS46GV~miGOgkBBlaXKCujTK7NbiSJ4f94Grvm~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gastonia City Council approved a municipal agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) committing municipal funding for aesthetic betterments tied to the I‑85 widening project.

City staff described the betterments as architectural and landscaping enhancements at three interchanges and three overpass bridges inside Gastonia city limits. Proposed treatments include brick veneer on visible abutments and retaining walls, powder-coated bridge railings, medallions (possibility of a city seal), enhanced signal mast arms, and enhanced landscaping at interchange ramps. Staff said any additional lighting for bicycle and pedestrian uses would be outside the municipal agreement and would carry added costs to the city.

NCDOT agreed to contribute a portion of the cost from a program that allocates a percentage of construction funds toward corridor betterments; that state participation reduced the city’s gross share. The municipal agreement before council set the city’s net participation at $2,660,610.42. Staff said the city planned to pay from the second issuance of previously approved general obligation bond proceeds and recommended making a single final invoice payment at project completion rather than an installment schedule.

Council members asked about the project timeline and whether different sections of the overall I‑85 widening would be constructed in phases. Staff said the section that runs through Gastonia (Section A) was scheduled later than other sections; NCDOT plans indicated the first construction contracts for the corridor could be let in mid‑2025 (with phased construction over several years) and that the Gastonia segments would likely be constructed toward the end of the corps schedule. Staff also noted that railroad bridges are typically not suitable for the same aesthetic treatments, although they will be rebuilt.

Council approved the municipal agreement in a recorded vote. Staff said Belmont had already approved its municipal agreement for the same program; Lowell and Gaston County were still evaluating participation.

City staff will coordinate with NCDOT on final design details and the invoicing schedule; upon project completion NCDOT will invoice the city for the approved municipal betterments.","The council approved a municipal agreement committing municipal funds for aesthetic 'betterments' on the I‑85 widening project, including interchange and overpass finishes and landscaping; the city’s share was set at $2,660,610.42 in the municipal agreement.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6034486,"Gastonia council approves level-4 tax-incentive package for Project Nexus, a 701-job manufacturing plan",255,6383000,6638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50&start=6383&end=6638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5165857-49abdb460885d91b272058b7df6cbb50/thumbnail_6383000.jpg","/articles/6034486/Gastonia/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Gastonia-council-approves-level-4-tax-incentive-package-for-Project-Nexus-a-701-job-manufacturing-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034486-0966231d3a087f7b6e251d6255fb2054/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202242&Signature=TBWeg48FBFRIfiy5L9D--z5yQ-iv0wX6rbKTNKZoVIP7le2w4r9otQYC8tzFLlkYAICQ5NCf5OT3raGfVZ4~jDdiDQaxw6dqrduOBhrSEoGOzIOQaAS9yBbbfL1i~epamA8tuDD5HEqcJE1gfd-4iPTXRq9sNcUI4bhYv~j8OdwlBZ3pt8UGY1ykhXJTsi2dOILwoh~GzodteErYRrriiqmdb7thSf1-rejL0OsoW9qQpD-k2k7vmBWYY1z0bYMEGb0yISc-LRHfyZyVnvwcoMlowfPSHFZauJXNfmvWUGmGC3k94dIqsf9LnuprPfxiZeCT8dQbdCz8UIU6lZSFTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gastonia City Council voted unanimously to approve a level-4 economic development grant for Project Nexus, a proposed manufacturing operation that would locate in the Trinity Building near the U.S. 321/I‑85 area and create 701 jobs.

City economic development staff described Project Nexus as a manufacturing expansion that would place machinery and equipment into an 875,000-square-foot shell developed by Trinity Partners. The presenter said the company plans to invest in machinery and equipment estimated at about $268 million; Trinity Partners previously invested about $61 million to construct the shell.

Council members moved and seconded the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the City’s participation in the tax-incentive package. Council members were told the City’s grant structure reimburses only a portion of the taxes and that the company is pursuing state-level incentives in addition to the local package.

City economic development staff described the jobs as averaging roughly $52,000 in pay, which staff said is near the Gaston County average wage. The council and staff emphasized that the project is manufacturing rather than a distribution center, and that local water and sewer service would serve the site.

The council approved the resolution after the public hearing portion of the meeting; a motion to accept the package passed with a second and a unanimous vote.

Council members and staff said the city remains in competition with at least one other state for the project, and city staff said state incentives (a JED grant) would be pursued in parallel.

The council did not adopt additional binding commitments at the meeting beyond the tax‑incentive resolution; any final incentive payments will be paid under the terms of the approved grant program and the company’s future application documentation.

The council’s action makes Gastonia a named municipal partner for the level-4 grant and authorizes staff to complete the municipal documents described in the resolution.","The Gastonia City Council approved a level-4 economic development grant to support Project Nexus, a manufacturing operation that would occupy the Trinity Building and create 701 jobs. The company and city also said the project will pursue state incentives.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City manager presents FY2026 proposed budget; council opens public hearing and schedules adoption

Council selects Oak and Willow Builders to develop Highland lots; debate centers on affordability

Council updates downtown facade grant rules, keeps 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible

Gastonia approves $2.66 million municipal agreement with NCDOT for I‑85 aesthetic betterments

Gastonia council approves level-4 tax-incentive package for Project Nexus, a 701-job manufacturing plan