Whiteville staff present balanced budget proposal with 2% COLA, two added positions and $29 million in active projects

Whiteville city staff presented a proposed balanced operating budget that includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, two additional staff positions and limited use of fund balance while asking department heads to hold off nonessential capital spending through December.

The presentation, delivered by a city staff member, said the general fund is projected at roughly $7,300,000, the sewer fund roughly $3,500,000 and that the overall package shows an $82,000 contribution to fund balance in the general fund. The staff member said the city is managing about $29,000,000 in active projects and “a total of $45,000,000” in projects the city is overseeing.

Why it matters: staff warned that expenses—particularly personnel and inflation-driven operating costs—have been growing faster than revenues and urged cautious management to avoid deeper draws on fund balance. The presenter said the recommended approach is to “keep doing what we’re doing” through December and defer discretionary capital until the city has clearer revenue results.

Staff outlined…