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Boiling Spring Lakes board advances near-final budget, proposes 3% COLA and staffing change
Summary
At a June 4 budget workshop, the Boiling Spring Lakes City Board of Commissioners discussed a near-final budget that includes a proposed 3% cost-of-living adjustment, elimination of the development services director role in favor of a planner reporting to the city manager, increased maintenance funding for the community center, and a new line item for the Venus Flytrap Festival. A public hearing was scheduled for June 22, 2026.
Boiling Spring Lakes City Mayor Jeff Winecoff called a budget workshop to order June 4, 2026, at City Hall as the Board of Commissioners moved toward finalizing the city's upcoming budget. City Manager Gordon Hargrove and Finance Director Brandon Stevens presented recommended adjustments tied to personnel structure, departmental funding, fee schedules, and capital needs.
The board discussed personnel changes prompted by the new city manager's planning background. City Manager Gordon Hargrove said the development services director position will be eliminated and that a planner position will report directly to the city manager, shifting staffing and budget lines in the planning department. Finance Director Brandon Stevens said planning department funding was recalculated to reflect the revised staffing model.
Commissioner Kim Sherwood proposed a 3% cost-of-living adjustment to keep salaries aligned with inflation and regional standards; the workshop noted that merit raises are not currently practiced but could be considered in the future. The 3% figure was presented as a proposed adjustment during the workshop discussion.
Officials also approved increased funding for community center maintenance to address aging HVAC systems and discussed capital expenditures and contingency funds to cover future infrastructure needs. The board agreed to pursue grants for infrastructure projects, noting that matching funds would depend on eligibility, and added a new line item to support the Venus Flytrap Festival.
The board debated raising certain permit and development fees to offset city resource impacts; staff noted legal limitations that prevent direct impact fees and suggested development agreements and permit fee increases as alternatives. Commissioners discussed strategies to share the tax burden between commercial and residential properties.
Responding to community feedback about meeting audio quality, the board allocated funds for new microphones and improved audiovisual equipment and directed staff to evaluate new financial software and consider purchasing equipment rather than leasing to reduce long-term costs.
The board also reviewed proposed increases to civil penalties for repeat code violations, burning violations, and unregistered vehicles and discussed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to address recurring issues.
Commissioner Kim Sherwood moved to schedule a public hearing on the proposed budget for Monday, June 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall and to adjourn the workshop; Commissioner Todd Ausborn seconded. The motion carried 3-0. The workshop adjourned at 10:52 a.m.
The board plans to advertise the draft budget and make it available for public review at City Hall before the June 22 hearing. No formal policy changes were adopted at the workshop; the meeting record reflects staff direction, fiscal proposals, and the scheduling of the public hearing.
