Drexel adopts FY 2025–26 budget, raises off-duty officer pay; extends mayoral term and denies an extra alderman seat

The Drexel Board of Aldermen on June 3 adopted the town's FY 2025–26 budget and amended the fee schedule to raise pay for off-duty police work from $35 to $40 an hour.

The action, taken after a public hearing and a presentation by RJ Moseley of McGill and Associates, also included unanimous approval of an ordinance to increase the mayoral term from two to four years, subject to a referendum conducted under North Carolina General Statutes 160A-103. The board voted to deny a separate ordinance that would have added an alderman seat to the town charter.

Why it matters: The adopted budget sets the town's fiscal priorities for the coming year and includes the higher off-duty pay rate the mayor and police chief discussed during the hearing. McGill and Associates presented a water and sewer revenue analysis that recommended raising rates 12% annually for three years to fund planned capital improvements; the board held that analysis as part of the budget hearing. The mayoral-term ordinance will take effect June 3, 2025, but implementation is contingent on the outcome of a referendum process spelled out in NCGS 160A-103.

The budget hearing opened at 6:40 p.m. Mayor Dennis Anthony asked Police Chief Ritchie about off-duty pay for county and neighboring officers; Chief Ritchie said the county pays —around $40 an hour for off duty work.— The mayor noted Drexel currently pays $35 and said he would like to raise it to $40. After the McGill presentation on water and sewer capital projects and revenue needs, the public hearing closed at 7:45 p.m.

Alderman Scott Coe moved to adopt the FY 2025'26 proposed budget with an amendment adjusting the off-duty officer fee from $35 to $40 per hour; Alderman Jennifer Yount seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

On charter changes, the board denied a proposed amendment to add an alderman seat. Later the board approved an ordinance increasing the mayoral term from two to four years; the motion was made by Alderman Timothy Franklin and seconded by Alderman Scott Coe. The ordinance was described in the minutes as effective from and after June 3, 2025, and subject to the referendum process under NCGS 160A-103.

The board entered closed session at 7:53 p.m. pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(1) and (6) to protect privileged attorney-client communications and to consider the performance of a public officer. After returning to open session at 8:59 p.m., the board approved a contract amendment to the town…