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Rocky Mount residents and council weigh proposed property tax increase during budget hearing
Summary
City council held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget. Residents urged caution on a proposed property tax increase and asked for clearer breakdowns of utility and solid-waste fee changes; the council closed the hearing and did not vote on the budget at this meeting.
City Manager Elton Daniels presented the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget and the city held a public hearing where multiple residents spoke for and against a proposed property tax increase.
The most repeated concern from speakers was a proposed 4¢ property tax increase that one commenter said would raise about $2,400,000 and would be used in part to fund cost-of-living increases for city employees. Jean Kitchen, a former member of the Rocky Mount Board of Education, urged council to “please allow Mister Daniels to follow through on his advice and his budget,” saying she supported the manager’s approach to delay positions and look for other savings rather than immediately raising property taxes.
The hearing drew a mix of views. Brent Wilson called a 2¢ increase “a compromise.” Veronica Jennings said she opposed the proposed 4¢ increase and asked the council to follow Daniels’s recommendation to delay some raises until midyear. Jennings also disputed a city flyer about solid-waste fees, saying the full monthly increase in the manager’s budget adds to $7.25 when several fees are combined; she asked for clearer, consolidated figures.
Bronson Williams praised the “openness and discussion” during this year’s budget process but urged council to consider restoring the fund balance. Williams cited figures from the proposed budget, noting a general fund of $97,860,000 and stating the city’s 8% target fund balance would be about $7,828,000; he said current projections could leave the fund balance materially below that target.
Speakers raising hardship concerns included Regina Townsend, who said a bedridden resident she helps saw his city tax bill increase substantially after reassessment and warned further increases would burden people on fixed incomes. Bianca Davis urged council to pursue revenue-generating strategies such as business attraction and grant funding to reduce reliance on property taxes.
City staff and council did not take a final vote on the budget at this meeting. Mayor Robertson closed the public hearing after hearing from all signatories; councilmembers encouraged continued public participation as the budget proceeds toward a final vote (the transcript references June 23 as the next relevant council action date).
