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Waynesville adopts FY2027 budget with no property tax increase; sets rates, updates fees
Summary
The Waynesville Town Council adopted its fiscal year 2027 budget June 23 with no property tax increase, set the ad valorem rate at $0.4790 per $100 and the downtown MSD rate at $0.19, and approved new fee structures for water/sewer taps and higher grease-related penalties.
The Waynesville Town Council adopted its fiscal year 2027 budget on June 23, approving a spending plan officials said avoids an increase in the property tax rate while limiting use of fund balance.
Town staff presented a revised budget that removes a previously proposed tax increase. "This last revision of the budget has no tax increase," the town manager told the council, adding the plan reduces appropriated fund balance to about $35,000. Council members expressed appreciation for department heads' work and staff discipline during the multi-week process.
The council set the town's ad valorem tax rate at $0.4790 per $100 of assessed value and set the downtown Waynesville municipal service district (MSD) rate at $0.19 per $100. The council also approved a fee-schedule update that restructures water and sewer tap charges (separate fees for single-family homes, subdivisions, and developer-installed taps) and raises penalties related to grease and sewer blockages: proposed call-out minimums and penalty amounts were described by staff as reflecting labor and equipment costs.
Hutch, deputy director of public works (operations), explained a separate but related budget amendment to move Powell Bill reserve funds into the active paving account to cover Chestnut Park overlay work. The council subsequently approved Ordinance No. 02426 to authorize that transfer.
Council members noted the budget includes a 1% cost-of-living adjustment for staff plus merit increases and that electric rate increases previously contemplated were removed. On mandated sewer rates, staff said state requirements still compel some sewer adjustments tied to water-treatment costs.
The budget ordinance was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote. The council also approved the associated fee schedule changes; staff said they will add a clear definition of "subdivision" in the published schedule prior to posting to avoid confusion for applicants.
The council adjourned after completing the budget vote.
