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Raeford adopts $6.37 million 2021-22 budget, keeps tax rate and raises police pay
Summary
The Raeford City Council unanimously adopted the FY 2021-22 budget on June 7, 2021, keeping the property tax rate at $0.48 per $100, approving a 5% water-rate increase to fund WWTP debt service, a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for staff, and a 15% pay increase for police officers.
The Raeford City Council adopted the FY 2021-22 budget in a unanimous vote at its June 7 meeting, keeping the city property tax rate at $0.48 per $100 of assessed value and approving measures city leaders said were necessary to fund utility debt and personnel costs.
City Manager Dennis Baxley presented the recommended budget, which appropriates $6,372,851 in the General Fund and $2,510,800 for Water and Sewer operations. The ordinance keeps the tax rate unchanged, applies a 5% increase to water rates to support debt service on the wastewater treatment plant renovation, provides a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees and a 15% pay increase for police officers.
Councilman Wayne Willis moved to approve the ordinance and the accompanying Budgeted Personnel Master Report; Councilwoman Mary Neil King seconded the motion, which the minutes record as unanimously carried.
The ordinance lists department appropriations and revenue estimates, including $2,260,132 in current-year ad valorem taxes and an estimated total property valuation of $487,889,271 with an estimated collection rate of 97.62%. The Water and Sewer Fund anticipates revenues from water and sewer usage charges, surcharges and minimal proceeds from financing to balance a $2,510,800 appropriation.
Council adopted provisions authorizing the city manager to transfer appropriations within departments and limited transfers between departments (up to 10% of a department’s appropriation) with a subsequent report to the governing board. The budget ordinance also references active project ordinances, including a wastewater state revolving loan project and other capital projects.
The council also approved the Budgeted Personnel Master Report, which lists roughly 60 positions (57.5 FTEs) across departments and details staffing for police, public works, water operations and other services.
The ordinance was adopted as the governing body’s fiscal plan for the year beginning July 1, 2021; the minutes record that no public comments were offered during the required budget hearing.
Next steps: the budget takes effect July 1, 2021, and staff are authorized to make transfers as permitted by the ordinance.
