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Kenly budget workshop outlines tax‑rate scenarios, pay increases and potential equipment purchases
Summary
At a May 20 reconvened workshop the Town of Kenly reviewed FY2025–26 budget documents, modeled revenue at 69 cents and 64 cents tax rates, discussed an 18% police pay increase request and other personnel adjustments, and considered a pickup truck purchase under a state contract (motion made and seconded; vote not recorded).
Town of Kenly staff and council held a reconvened budget workshop on May 20 to review draft FY2025–2026 figures, revenue projections and departmental allocations.
Interim Town Manager Tony Sears distributed detailed budget documents, including 25 fiscal‑year revenue and expenditure figures, a draft budget and a one‑page summary. Staff presented two tax‑rate scenarios based on a Johnston County valuation of $230 million: a 69‑cent rate yielding roughly $1.587 million and a 64‑cent rate (with a 98% assumed collection) yielding about $1,442,833. Staff noted each one‑cent change in the tax rate corresponds to approximately $23,004 in revenue and identified a revenue‑neutral rate near 50 cents.
The draft budget under discussion included personnel proposals: an 18% base‑pay increase for the police department (estimated at about $75,705) and a 12% increase for other administrative employees (estimated about $63,304). Staff recommended a $30,000 part‑time Town Hall position funded from a combination of the general fund and water/sewer administration, updated insurance and retirement contributions, and modest capital outlays. The police line‑item corrections and options for fire funding were discussed, including the prospect of moving to a 100% county funding model for fire services; the volunteer fire department contract expires June 30 and staff suggested a one‑year renewal with minor modifications.
Water and sewer items included a proposed per‑unit rate increase from $0.35 to $0.40, discussion of current collection performance (87.31% to date, expected to approach 98%), and reallocation of salary funds within those departments. Staff proposed purchasing a pickup truck under a state contract at an initial price around $53,900 with a not‑to‑exceed figure of $60,000 to include body and safety equipment; a motion to approve the truck purchase under those constraints was made and seconded during the workshop, but the transcript does not record a subsequent vote.
Council discussed next steps, including using an unassigned $27,200 for a parks and recreation master plan and estimating larger projects (such as splash pads) in the several‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar range. Staff and council set follow‑up actions and agreed to continue budget work as needed; no final budget adoption was recorded at the workshop meeting.
