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Raeford council reviews budget priorities: public works building, cemetery expansion pulled, police vehicle requests and water contract updates
Summary
City Manager Dennis Baxley outlined budget shifts including pulling a $500,000 cemetery expansion estimate and adding a $350,000 public works building request; the council also heard about two $100,000 police vehicle requests and an unresolved county water contract with $72,000 in unpaid reimbursements.
City Manager Dennis Baxley told the Raeford City Council on April 7 that revenue projections for the coming fiscal year were still in progress and that he had removed a roughly $500,000 site‑work quote for cemetery expansion from the draft budget pending further review.
Baxley said Public Works is requesting $350,000 to build a 50-by-150-foot replacement pole-barn to prevent equipment freezing in winter. He warned that if the city borrowed to build larger new facilities (police office and public works), the city would be committed to 20–30 years of debt service; state funding remains the preferred option.
The Police Department requested two replacement vehicles at about $100,000 each, to be outfitted with cameras, computers, lights, sirens and cages; Major Ray Crumpler identified the planned chassis as Ford Explorers. The department also introduced its new K‑9, Zeke, who had left for training the day of the meeting.
Baxley outlined proposed travel line items ($800 for the mayor, $400 for each council member) and reported staff recommendations for nonprofit allocations: Hoke Literacy Council requested $5,000 (proposed $4,000), Hoke Rescue Squad requested $12,000 (proposed $12,000), Children’s Developmental Center requested $30,000 (proposed $22,000) and Raeford‑Hoke Museum requested $25,000 (proposed $22,000). The Fall Festival requested $6,500; the manager currently has $2,500 included.
On intergovernmental matters, Baxley said Hoke County had indicated an intent to withdraw from the city’s water contract and that the city has not yet received $72,000 in reimbursements for work already completed; he has requested written confirmation from county staff. He also said wastewater funding is frozen at the state level pending action on HB 260 in the Appropriations Committee to permit reallocation of unused Cameron Heights project funds back to the city. Water permitting was described as delayed in Raleigh.
Council members asked staff to verify code requirements for vehicles stored in yards (registration and tires) and discussed whether a building replaced in-place could later be repurposed if the city relocated operations.
Earlier in the meeting the council approved routine consent items, including March 3 minutes and an annexation request for 752 Laurinburg Road, and at the close the council unanimously approved a motion to adjourn.
