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Indian Trail council adopts FY 2025–26 budget, sets property tax rate at 17 cents
Summary
The Town of Indian Trail approved its FY 2025–26 budget ordinance and set the property tax rate at $0.17 per $100 of assessed value; the measure passed 3–1 after discussion about contract and infrastructure cost risks.
The Town of Indian Trail Council approved the FY 2025–26 budget ordinance and set the property tax rate at 17 cents per $100 of assessed value following discussion about contract and infrastructure cost risk. The motion to adopt the budget passed 3–1.
Council and staff debated assumptions behind the budget during the meeting. Town Manager Mike McLaurin walked the council through the ordinance, describing the standard North Carolina budget process (department requests, finance revenue estimates and public hearings) and noting a decision to set aside five cents for a capital reserve fund. McLaurin said the budget books and fee schedules had been distributed to council members and that the ordinance legally levied the property tax for the coming fiscal year.
The council discussed cost uncertainties that could affect the budget, highlighting the town’s solid-waste (garbage) contract and the sheriff’s contract as the two largest and most unpredictable expenditures. Council members noted recent and pending capital work — including waterline work at Emerald Woods and stormwater/culvert projects — and said they had factored in higher potential costs. One member said the town had lowered its tax rate from 18.5 cents to 17 cents while recognizing that reassessments had increased many homeowners’ valuations, producing higher total tax bills despite a lower rate.
A motion was made to approve the FY 2025–26 budget ordinance with the 17-cent tax rate. The council recorded the measure as passing 3–1; one council member voted against the ordinance and one member was absent.
The manager said auditors will begin preliminary field work soon and that essential spending had been restricted after June 1 to finish the fiscal year in a strong position.
The ordinance establishes anticipated expenditures and revenues, sections for stormwater and debt service, and an adopted fee schedule. The town manager said the capital and grant funding assumed in the ordinance included state reimbursements and an ongoing capital program. Councilmembers emphasized the need to monitor rising material and equipment costs and said staff would return with updates as needed.
The council did not adopt additional tax or fee changes at the meeting; the ordinance voted on is the budget and tax levy for FY 2025–26.
