Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rocky Mount staff preview FY2026 budget; city plans no property tax rate increase
Summary
City staff outlined the FY2026 budget preparation schedule, projected revenue growth, and a plan to avoid a property tax rate increase while urging departmental restraint; staff estimated around $4 million in current revenue growth and flagged a $9 million combined fund-balance reduction from 2024–25 figures.
Ken Hunter, a city finance staff member, presented a preview of the City of Rocky Mount’s operating budget process and schedule, telling council staff aim to present the manager’s proposed budget in May and that the proposal will not include a property tax rate increase.
Hunter said budget notebooks would be distributed around May 16 with a formal proposal planned for May 28, followed by work sessions between May 28 and June 4, a virtual town hall (tentatively) around May 29, a public hearing on June 9 and adoption on June 23. “It is our intention of or the city manager when the city manager proposed budget is presented to you in May, there will be no increase in the property tax rate,” Hunter said.
Nut graf: The staff presentation set expectations for limited revenue growth, a continued emphasis on using fund balance sparingly, and seek council guidance on priorities as departments finalize their requests.
Fiscal assumptions and priorities - Hunter told council staff expect approximately $4 million in general fund revenue growth in current revenues compared with adopted FY2025 levels; this figure excludes debt issuance. - Staff estimated a combined reduction in fund balance of about $9,000,000 when comparing 2024 and 2025 numbers based on preliminary figures provided to the council. - Staff plan to reduce reliance on one-time fund balance, emphasize prudent spending controls, and avoid requests for additional full-time positions for FY2026; vacancies may be reallocated between departments as needed. - Utility rate adjustments are anticipated for water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste to reflect operating cost changes; staff said they would explain those adjustments in forthcoming presentations.
Process and schedule - Budget notebooks: available around May 16 for council review. - Manager’s formal proposal: targeted for May 28, with work sessions May 28–June 4. - Public hearing: council meeting on June 9; adoption targeted for June 23.
Why it matters: the preview frames the fiscal constraints the city faces, ties budget choices to staffing and capital priorities, and sets public deadlines for hearings and adoption. Council members asked for clarifications about contract escalators and capital procurement timing; Hunter said state contract purchases usually include firm prices but warned about long lead times that can affect availability.
What’s next: staff will deliver the manager’s proposed budget in late May, provide supporting notebooks for council review, and present more detailed recommended utility adjustments in forthcoming sessions.
