Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
West Jefferson aldermen approve absorbing library water bill, review FY 2025-26 budget
Loading...
Summary
At a special April 28 meeting, West Jefferson aldermen reviewed the FY 2025-26 budget, proposed a $0.35 tax rate, approved absorbing the library’s water bill 4-1, discussed 5% COLA for town staff and 5.5% for law enforcement, and reviewed capital requests for police, fire and utilities.
The West Jefferson Board of Aldermen met in a special session April 28, 2025, to review the proposed FY 2025-26 budget and approved absorbing the library’s water bill by a 4-1 vote.
Town Manager Brantley Price reviewed administrative and departmental requests, outlining revenue assumptions and capital needs. The minutes list a property tax rate of $0.35 under consideration and record proposed cost-of-living adjustments of 5% for town employees and 5.5% for law enforcement.
Among administrative items, the board approved "Request to absorb the library’s water bill" by a 4-1 vote; Alderman Calvin Green is recorded as opposing the measure. The administration also presented possible increases in property insurance, a downtown Wi‑Fi annual fee, replacement Christmas decorations, higher garbage pickup costs, and renovations to town hall restrooms and the upstairs meeting room. Price also described an engineering design request to convert the park baseball field into an amphitheater.
Police department requests reviewed in the budget included uniforms, Southern Software, departmental supplies, replacement of three desktop computers, three tasers and three ballistic vests, vehicle maintenance and a proposed new police vehicle. Maintenance and public works items included a possible additional employee (if the budget allows), a snow blade for a new 4500 dump truck, replacement of the streetsweeper deck, leaf vacuuming equipment, small tools, downtown flowers and planters, storm drain box and tile replacement, and sidewalk repairs near the arts council building and in front of R.T. Morgan.
Powell Bill revenue was noted for paving projects. Park maintenance items included playground mulch and tennis court repairs; cemetery items listed sale of plots and routine maintenance. The Fire Department’s requests included increasing the assistant chief’s monthly salary, adding two employees, grants and supplies, an air pack washer, hose and ladder testing, helicopter insurance, and replacement of Pumper/Tanker #5 (a 1997 model) — the minutes note an estimated three-year lead time for that vehicle.
Water and sewer revenue and projects were discussed at length. The minutes list potential funding sources including Golden Leaf stormwater funds, fund balance, the state budget, wastewater upgrade funds, and AIA/ARPA grants. Proposed water improvements included extra sampling, parts and training for the filter plant, pressure transducers, detention tank sensors, chemical feed pumps, new well meters, SCADA parts and upgrades, and engineering work for Oakwood booster pumps and a valve behind Forest Ridge. The record also notes an intent to "interconnect with Jefferson" for water and sewer, without additional identifying detail about which Jefferson is referenced.
Sewer items in the proposed budget included pumps and backwash equipment, Beaver Creek pump station work, polymer/landfill tipping fees, UV bulb and ballast replacements, belt press maintenance and a listed 4" trailer-mounted pump for emergency use.
Votes at a glance: The minutes record (1) approval of absorbing the library’s water bill, 4-1 (Alderman Calvin Green opposed), and (2) a motion to adjourn the special meeting made by Alderman Stephen Shoemaker and seconded by Alderman Rusty Barr, which carried 4-0. The minutes do not specify the full roll call for the adjournment vote.
The minutes close with signature lines for Mayor Tom Hartman and Rebecca Eldreth. The record lists Eldreth earlier as Assistant Town Manager and shows her signing the minutes as Town Clerk.