Gastonia council adopts $378 million budget and approves fee increases including water and transit fares

The Gastonia City Council on June 2 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget, a package the city manager described as a $378,000,000 total that combines operating, capital and enterprise funds.

City Manager Michael Peoples told the council the budget includes a proposed 7.5% increase to water and sewer rates and would generate roughly $6 million toward a capital-improvement plan that addresses decades of deferred infrastructure work. He also said the city’s water and sewer operations exceed $65 million and the electric fund is “almost a $100,000,000” line item in the overall plan.

The council also considered a 28-page fee schedule that would raise residential solid-waste collection by $2 (and $2.50 for an additional cart), increase the regular transit fare from $2.50 to $3 and the reduced fare from $1.25 to $1.50, and add a distance-based surcharge for trips longer than five miles. A motion to remove the transit surcharge failed; the fee schedule passed on a 4–2 vote.

Residents who spoke during the public-comment period pressed the council for greater fiscal scrutiny. “A budget of this size should be examined carefully, debated openly, and questioned thoroughly before it is approved,” said Mike Tamberella, a Gastonia resident who noted what he described as rapid growth in the city budget in recent years.

Council members emphasized public-safety and infrastructure priorities in approving the budget. One council member listed investments included in the plan — a proposed new Fire Station 9, technology and staffing for a real-time crime center, and greenway and parks projects — and described the package as balanced and intended to protect services while preparing for growth.

The council voted to adopt the budget ordinance as presented; the motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Fee schedule (including water/sewer increase and transit fare changes): passed 4–2. An amendment to remove the distance-based transit surcharge failed. - Budget ordinance (annual operating, capital and community development budgets combined): passed unanimously.

What’s next The fee schedule and the budget become effective per the city’s adoption timeline; staff will publish finalized schedules and post related materials online. The city manager and department heads said staff will continue outreach explaining rate and fee impacts and the planned capital projects.