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Thomasville manager proposes $55.1M budget, recommends sanitation fee and utility rate increases
Summary
City Manager Michael Brandt presented a balanced $55,126,140 FY2024–25 budget that keeps the tax rate flat at $0.62, proposes raising the sanitation charge to $15/month and a 4.5% average water/sewer increase; Council set a public hearing for June 3.
City Manager Michael Brandt presented the City of Thomasville’s recommended Fiscal Year 2024–2025 budget at the May 20 council meeting, proposing a $55,126,140 spending plan and scheduling a public hearing for June 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Aquatic & Community Center at 20 Stadium Drive.
Brandt said the proposal complies with Section 159-11 of the North Carolina General Statutes and is balanced across 10 funds. Key elements include maintaining the property tax rate at $0.62 per $100 of assessed valuation, a proposed sanitation charge of $15.00 per month (an increase of $7.75), and an average water and sewer rate increase of 4.5% based on a prior rate study. The manager also proposed a 2.0% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and cited increases in employer retirement contributions to the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System.
"It is my pleasure to formally present the City of Thomasville's recommended Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget for your review and consideration," Brandt said in presenting the document, which he described as the largest budget the City has ever proposed. The proposed capital budget includes over $3.1 million in equipment and information-technology purchases; a new fire ladder truck accounts for roughly $1.6 million of that total. Two new full-time positions are recommended: a GIS analyst in Engineering and a Utility Locator in the Utility Fund.
The proposal also lists outside-agency funding recommendations, including $33,000 for downtown revitalization and $50,000 for city beautification plantings, and retains the Thomasville City School supplemental tax at $0.195. Brandt said the budget is available for public review with the City Clerk and on the city's website.
Council members thanked staff for the work that went into the document. Council unanimously called a special meeting and public hearing for Monday, June 3, at 6 p.m. to receive public comment on the proposed budget; the manager’s proposal is advisory until Council votes to adopt or amend it in a future meeting.
Next steps: Council will take public comment at the June 3 hearing and may amend or adopt the budget at a subsequent meeting.
