Lenoir City Council approves FY2025-26 city and school budgets, keeps tax rate at 0.9455; schools outline safety and staffing investments

Lenoir City Council on Monday approved the city and Lenoir City Schools budgets for fiscal year 2025-26 and confirmed the property tax rate at 0.9455, actions council members passed by roll call during the meeting.

The approvals come as city staff told councilors that modest revenue growth is expected from property taxes and state-shared revenues while overall expenditures are rising largely because of inflation and personnel costs. "We have adequate reserves to cover that," a city staff member, Sean, said in presenting the budget, adding the city gave a 3% wage increase to employees this year and will begin providing retirement benefit adjustments tied to TCRs.

Why it matters: The combined votes fund municipal services and the school district for the coming fiscal year and preserve the current tax rate for residents while committing local funds to…