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Goldsboro Council adopts FY2026 operating budget after narrow vote, funds employee raises and street, parks and code work
Summary
After debate about including a utility rate increase, the Goldsboro City Council adopted the FY2026 operating budget 4–3. The budget includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for city employees, a holiday bonus allocation and funding for streets, blight removal and the Edgewood community center lease.
The Goldsboro City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2026 operating budget following a lengthy discussion that included debate over utility rate treatment within the document.
The budget passed the council by a 4–3 margin. Council discussion before the vote centered on process (several members said they wanted a separate budget work session) and on whether to include a pending utility rate increase directly inside the budget ordinance or adopt the rate separately.
What the budget funds: - A 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for city employees, described by staff as in line with statewide municipal norms. - A holiday/employee bonus; staff identified $321,897 in the budget to fund an employee holiday bonus program (amount distributed via a payroll mechanism and funded by lapse/other savings identified in the budget process). - Continued recruitment and retention funding and partial implementation of a compensation study to adjust pay where needed. - Funding to recapitalize fire and police vehicles and to continue hiring and retention efforts in public safety. - New funding for streets and a separate street improvement fund (Powell bill resources will be moved into an identified street fund and some operating costs shifted back to general fund to preserve Powell bill flexibility). - A lease arrangement and programming resources for the Edgewood site to create a community center and park programming capacity. - Increased funding for code enforcement and blight removal, and funds for parks and recreation planning and outreach.
Why it matters: The budget package reflects the council’s stated priorities — public safety, blight remediation, streets, parks programming and employee pay — while acknowledging that some capital needs (notably the wastewater plant) will require additional financing and may put upward pressure on rates in coming years.
Council comments and process: Several members said they supported most of the budget’s elements but opposed the utility rate increase included in the ordinance; one council member stated she would have voted for the budget absent the rate change. Multiple council members praised staff for work to reframe certain Powell bill expenditures and for assembling the capital improvement plan that drove several appropriations.
Outcome: The FY2026 annual operating budget ordinance was adopted 4–3. Council asked staff to continue outreach on the plan, to present more detailed phasing for capital projects and to return to the retreat with updated modeling on the utilities program and possible tiered billing options.
Ending: Staff said they will continue work on implementation, including executing the Edgewood lease, scheduling the compensation study follow‑up items and reporting back on capital phasing and funding options.
