Huntersville adopts FY2027 budget and raises residential solid-waste fee to $270

Huntersville staff presented the fiscal year 2027 budget ordinance and asked the board to adopt the recommended tax rate (unchanged) and a revised residential solid-waste fee. Staff said the proposed tax rate would remain unchanged at $22.75 and recommended increasing the annual residential solid‑waste fee to $270 (from $154 in recent years). Staff explained that the solid-waste fee history has varied since 2008 and that, at $154, the fee covered roughly 55–65% of the town’s estimated residential collection costs; $270 was presented as the estimated fee required to cover 100% of those costs for FY27 given population growth and contract adjustments.

Staff described operational mechanics: Mecklenburg County, as the town’s tax-collection agent, will include the fee on bills generated in mid‑July; the fee is an annual amount billed once per year. Staff converted the annual amount to common units: $270 per year is approximately $5.19 per week (52-week divide) and about $22.50 per month (12-month divide).

The budget ordinance also included a board request to add a half-year economic and business development position. During discussion board members asked whether the town could instead absorb solid-waste costs in the tax rate (staff noted Davidson previously rolled a fee into the tax rate) and asked for clarity on how the fee level relates to contract costs and enrollment growth. Staff said the town’s contract and CPI adjustments and monthly hauler charges make single-year estimation necessary and recommended the $270 fee to cover estimated costs.

A motion to adopt the FY2027 budget ordinance — which implements the $270 solid-waste fee and retains the tax rate — passed unanimously. Staff said Mecklenburg County will generate the July bills to property owners afterward and that the town will provide further communication to residents.