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Raeford manager proposes flat tax rate, staff pay increases and major equipment requests in FY2024 preview
Summary
City Manager Dennis Baxley presented a preliminary FY2024 budget May 1 keeping the property tax rate at $0.48, proposing a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and up to 2% merit pay, and listing capital requests including patrol vehicles, a $315,000 leaf machine, a $410,000 sanitation truck and a $70,000 SCADA water-plant upgrade; council set a public hearing for June 5.
City Manager Dennis Baxley presented the City of Raeford's preliminary recommended budget May 1, proposing to keep the property tax rate at $0.48 per $100 of assessed value while including a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and a merit pool up to 2%.
Baxley told the council insurance rates are estimated to rise about 10% and state retirement rates about 1%. He said staff is considering increases to sanitation rates and cemetery fees to cover service costs.
Capital requests noted in the presentation included two new patrol vehicles requested by the police department; a $315,000 leaf machine requested by the street department; a $410,000 residential sanitation truck requested by the sanitation department; a previously-ordered fire truck budgeted at $645,000 slated for delivery; and a $70,000 SCADA upgrade for the water plant.
Baxley also proposed personnel-policy amendments for council review during the budget process: limit voluntary shared leave donations to vacation only, add a birthday/floating holiday, align Christmas leave days with state practice (three days), and increase tuition assistance from $500 to $1,000. He said the council would study the proposed budget with possible adoption at the June 5 meeting and that a public hearing on the FY2024 budget has been set for June 5 by Resolution #2023-11.
Council did not take final action on personnel-policy changes or rate increases at the May 1 meeting; staff will return with details, and the formal budget hearing is scheduled for June 5.
