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North Huntington weighs 1‑mill tax increase and $7 monthly storm‑water fee to fund roads and culverts
Summary
Township officials discussed two budget options to cover a projected shortfall: a 3‑mill property tax increase or a 1‑mill increase combined with a $7/month storm‑water fee for households. Staff said the fee approach would generate up to $1.8 million annually and allow more road and storm‑water projects this year.
North Huntington Township’s Board of Commissioners spent the bulk of Thursday’s work session debating how to close a projected shortfall in the 2026 budget and pay for a backlog of road and storm‑water projects.
Manager Harry Faulk told the board that the township’s operating costs have grown from about $9 million to $16.1 million and that the 2026 general fund currently shows a shortfall of roughly $584,000. Faulk presented two options: raise the real‑estate millage by 3 mills (from 9.23 to 12.23) and eliminate the per‑capita tax, or raise the millage by 1 mill (to 10.23), eliminate the per‑capita tax and implement a storm‑water maintenance fee of $7 per month per household. "As the budget currently stands, North Huntington Township will require an additional $584,000 in revenue to maintain existing operations," Faulk said.
Faulk and public‑works staff said the storm‑water fee would be dedicated to a new storm‑water management fund and could generate about $1.8 million a year, allowing the township to shift storm‑water expenses out of the general fund and to undertake projects such as the McKe Road channel restoration and several culvert replacements. Faulk said the Army Corps of Engineers recommended a McKe Road solution with an estimated cost of $900,000. He added the Haywood Road culvert is estimated at $750,000 and MS4‑related detention and stream‑bank projects were estimated at roughly $800,000.
Public‑works director Mr. Robinson warned the board that the road program is severely underfunded and urged a multi‑year recovery plan that would improve a minimum of 5 percent of roads annually. "From now on, we're going to approve a budget that improves a minimum of 5% of our roads," Robinson said, arguing that deferring work raises base‑repair costs and shortens pavement life.
Commissioners generally favored the second option at the work session. Commissioner Zona said, "I would definitely be in favor of option two myself to benefit the residents and also the township," and several members asked staff to return a draft 2026 budget next month showing three scenarios: the 3‑mill option, the 1‑mill plus storm‑water fee option, and a storm‑water‑fee‑only option.
Staff also walked the board through implementation details: storm‑water credits for properties that already control runoff, an ERU (equivalent residential unit) basis for commercial fees (about 3,500 square feet per ERU), and a multi‑month ordinance drafting process. Faulk said the township could expect revenue from a fee to begin in late spring if the board moves forward.
The work session did not include a final vote on either option. Board members directed the manager to prepare draft budgets so they can compare anticipated impacts on reserves, the capital program and homeowner bills. The board will consider formal action at upcoming meetings.
