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Garner manager unveils $87.4 million FY2026 recommended budget, keeps tax rate at 52¢
Summary
Town Manager Jody Miller presented a recommended FY2026 budget of $87.4 million that holds the property tax rate at 52¢, funds consolidation with Garner Fire Rescue, adds positions for parks and public safety, and schedules a May 15 work session and May 20 public hearing.
Town Manager Jody Miller presented the recommended fiscal year 2026 budget to the Garner Town Council on May 6, proposing $87.4 million in spending while holding the town property tax rate at 52¢.
Miller said the recommended budget is a $9.9 million increase from the amended FY2025 budget and allocates 43.5¢ of the tax rate to operations and 8.5¢ to debt service. “The recommended budget totals $87,400,000, a $9,900,000 increase from the FY '25 amended budget,” Miller said.
The proposal funds two council priorities: consolidating services with Garner Fire Rescue and opening a bond-funded athletic amenity on Garner Road. Miller said the town will gain 86 full‑time employees from the Garner Fire Rescue consolidation and recommended adding six full‑time positions to support onboarding, plus three firefighter positions to help staffing in FY2026. “The town will gain 86 new full time employees from Garner Fire Rescue, a 35% increase in the town's workforce,” Miller said.
Other notable allocations in the recommended budget include more than $500,000 set aside for additional police officers and resources, 12 full‑time positions for the new park (including a parks manager and maintenance staff), $978,000 for park improvements from the Penny for Parks program, $100,000 for traffic‑calming measures annually, and $100,000 proposed for preservation work with the nonprofit Preserving HOME (a 50% increase from FY2025). The recommendation also continues a $50,000 public art allocation started in FY2025.
Miller outlined operational and personnel measures: funding for the town’s performance merit system (up to 4% merit increases with a 3% market adjustment), one additional plan‑review position and one code‑compliance position, $810,000 for public facility repair and maintenance, and $2.2 million for vehicle and equipment repair.
Calendar and next steps: the council has a budget work session scheduled for May 15; an official public hearing on the recommended budget is set for May 20, and the town’s online budget portal will accept comments through June 1. Miller said staff is targeting final budget adoption on June 3. “I encourage you to visit our online budget portal at garnernc.gov so that you can learn more about the budget and offer your feedback,” Miller said.
Mayor Buddy Gupton and several council members praised the presentation and emphasized the opportunity for public comment during the scheduled work session and hearing.
What’s next: council deliberations at the May 15 work session will review staff analyses and public comments before the May 20 public hearing and any subsequent adoption action.
