Boiling Springs outlines FY2026-27 budget, highlights about $20 million in secured grants

Town Manager Zachary Parker presented the FY2026-27 proposed budget at the May 5 meeting, saying the document was guided by the town's recently adopted 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and reflected conservative revenue forecasts and a second consecutive 2% reduction in general fund expenditures.

Parker said enterprise funds for solid waste and water and sewer continue to operate as self-sustaining programs, with rate-based capital improvement projects reflected in the proposed budget. He walked council through a "penny chart" showing how each dollar of the town's property tax revenue is allocated: town operations receive about 24.35 cents of each tax dollar, while roughly 3.65 cents are remitted to Cleveland County.

The manager highlighted that since August 2025 the town has secured roughly $20 million in grant or grant-adjacent funding. Examples included a roughly $4 million South Main Street and downtown courtyard project in which the town's direct investment is about $45,000, and a $1.6 million drinking-water State Revolving Fund loan described as carrying full principal forgiveness. Parker said the budget was prepared through a staff-and-council team process and noted a public hearing on the proposed budget was scheduled for 6:30 P.M. on June 2, 2026.

Mayor Tommy Greene and council members praised the budget materials and stressed communicating the town's external grant successes to residents. Councilman Ron Wood singled out staff networking with state and federal officials as a key factor in securing funding.