Mocksville presents first draft FY 2526 budget, highlights $1 million water-tank project and rate options

Finance director Lynn Trivedi presented the first draft of Mocksville’s FY 2526 budget, emphasizing a $1 million North Elevated Tank as a capital priority and two alternative water and sewer rate scenarios that the board will review further in a budget workshop.

Trivedi told the board the enterprise fund draft is balanced and described the North Elevated Tank as “not one we can cut,” noting the project is in the town’s five‑year capital improvement plan and that leftover ARP funds (an example letter cited for $784,000) could reduce the town’s share. She said the town received a consultant study recommending rate adjustments to sustain water and sewer maintenance and the new water plant coming online in 2026.

The study produced two scenarios: both include a 6% water increase for FY 2526; scenario 1 pairs that with a 10% sewer increase, while scenario 2 pairs the 6% water increase with a 14% sewer increase. Trivedi said, “Without raising rates, the town would not be able to continue the water and sewer maintenance of future projects,” and she asked board members to submit follow‑up questions for the budget workshop so staff can provide more detail about the difference between the scenarios.

Trivedi also outlined general fund capital requests included in the first draft: parks and grounds ($166,500), public works items (roughly $200,000), street paving proposals (about $153,000) and fire department capital requests (about $159,980). Fire Chief Frank addressed the board to request restoring a daytime shift position that he described as a safety matter.

Human resources proposals in the draft include a tiered merit program for full‑time employees (outstanding 3%, very good 2.5%, good 2%), a 2% hourly increase for part‑time staff, a proposed board salary adjustment (commissioners $7.50 monthly, mayor $900 monthly), and a grade and salary increase for shift firefighters to prevent compression.

Trivedi reviewed administration projects (town hall windows estimated at $19,000), tax‑rate options and revenue assumptions. She explained three tax options the board can consider at workshops: keep the current 29¢ rate (the draft presented), adopt a revenue‑neutral rate (~0.2289), or choose a midpoint (approximately 0.24); each penny of tax rate is roughly $151,000 in revenue.

On downtown projects, Trivedi reviewed a $4.9 million state grant for the downtown community center, farmer’s market and outdoor performance area. She said roughly $2 million was spent to acquire the Energy United property, $308,000 on pedestrian crossing improvements and that about $928,000 remained in that line for the performance area; she noted the state grant’s spend‑down deadline and that scope updates could allow use for a sidewalk connectivity project (Duke Street). Trivedi said auditors reported a healthy fund balance (about 160%) and presented a five‑year fund overview.

What’s next: board members were asked to write down questions to be addressed at a scheduled budget workshop; Trivedi said staff will return with answers and an updated draft ahead of the board’s June vote on the budget.