Oak Ridge council adopts $2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady at 8¢

The Town of Oak Ridge Council on June 5 approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, keeping the town property tax rate unchanged at 8 cents per $100 of assessed value and funding major water and parks projects while projecting a small net surplus.

Town Manager Bill Bruce presented the proposed budget, saying it “funds longstanding commitments to the development of a municipal water system, expands sidewalk and trail connections, and investigates and implements additional recreational offerings.” Finance Committee Chair Stuart Meese told council the document represents “strategic investment, long term infrastructure with no increase in tax.”

The budget includes grant-funded capital for water infrastructure — Bruce told council grant revenue of “over $8,000,000” will be allocated in separate capital project ordinances to pay for construction of an elevated water tank and a 3.2-mile water main on Oak Ridge Road. The town also forecasts a 4.6% rise in revenues and a 4.4% increase in operating expenses; parks rental revenue is projected to grow by more than 50% because of two new facilities. The budget message in the council packet, Bruce said, contains further project and administrative detail.

Councilmembers asked for and received clarifications about revenue sources and the town’s relative tax burden. Mayor Anne Snyder noted the town’s tax rate has not changed since 2017 and said Oak Ridge has one of the lower municipal tax rates in North Carolina, citing North Carolina Department of Revenue data. Bruce and Finance Officer Sam Anders reported the budget anticipates about $20,000 in net revenue while maintaining reserves.

Council opened a public hearing before voting. Speakers who urged support included John Jenkins and Stuart Meese, both with the finance committee, who praised staff and the committee process. No speakers registered opposition during the hearing. After discussion, a motion to adopt the 2025–26 budget was made and seconded; the council voted in favor and the mayor announced, “The ayes have it.”

Council also approved several budget-related items before and after the adoption vote: authorization for the finance officer to execute a contract with auditors Forvis (audit firm engagement) to begin the required annual and single-audit work for fiscal 2025; and a final fiscal-year housekeeping budget amendment of $71,005.99 to cover several line-item adjustments (salaries, insurance, consulting and water system expenses). The council granted the finance officer authority to make adjustments through June 30 to ensure a balanced fiscal-year closeout and directed staff to report back at the next meeting.

The council’s fiscal actions on June 5 also included routine approvals: renewal of the town attorney contract and acceptance of the finance officer’s monthly report. During the finance update, Anders said the town ran 85 fire department calls in May and noted routine seasonal revenue timing (property-tax disbursements and motor-vehicle collections) that produce lower receipts at this point in the cycle.

The council’s vote to adopt the budget followed the public hearing and committee endorsements; no ordinance number for the budget enactment was provided in the meeting record. The council also recorded a separate closed-session personnel action later in the meeting affecting the town manager’s salary (see related action entry).