Whigham City Council reviews proposed 2025–26 budget and directs staff to draft utility rate changes

Mayor Trey Gainous presented the Whigham City proposed 2025–26 budget at the July 8 council meeting, saying overall costs for services and products had increased and that suggested rate changes and internal adjustments produced an estimated $75,000 difference in revenue. He told the council police maintenance spending was reduced in the draft budget because the city expects to use school‑zone camera revenue for repairs, and that downtown development authority (DDA) figures were not yet included because the DDA is just starting; Gainous said the city will cover the DDA's legal representation when needed.

The council discussed a staff recommendation to add a $5 fee per electric customer meter and to dissolve the 2,000‑gallon water minimum in favor of starting water bills at $20 for in‑city customers and $25 for customers outside the city, with billing by each 1,000 gallons. Mayor Gainous said the rate changes were included as estimates and that the revenue difference reflected the suggested changes and efforts to 'pinch pennies.' Council members described the proposal as a modest, evenly distributed approach rather than an immediate across‑the‑board rate hike.

Council direction on the matter was procedural: the clerk was instructed to have the city attorney draft the ordinance/resolution formalizing the proposed $5 electric meter fee and the revised water billing structure so those changes can be presented for a vote at the council's next meeting. No final vote on rates or fees took place at the July 8 meeting.

The budget draft also notes that DDA operating numbers were omitted pending the program's startup and that the city will pay for DDA legal representation as needed. The council did not finalize the budget; it remains subject to adoption once statutory public‑hearing and adoption steps are completed.