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City Manager recommends balanced $52.5M FY2025-26 budget; council sets June 2 public hearing
Summary
City Manager Richard White presented a recommended FY2025-26 balanced budget totaling about $52.5 million, including no tax-rate increase, a proposed 10% water and sewer rate increase, a 3% COLA, two recommended new positions and various capital purchases; council set a public hearing for June 2.
City Manager Richard White presented the recommended fiscal year 2025-26 budget to the Mebane City Council on May 5, describing a balanced proposal with total expenditures of approximately $52.5 million (general fund $37.5 million; utility fund $14.7 million). White said the recommendation includes no tax-rate increase, a projected 11.2% increase in property-tax revenue (based on assessments), and a proposed 10% increase in water and sewer rates for the next fiscal year.
White outlined personnel and compensation proposals including a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, two recommended positions (a human-resources analyst and a planning technician), and several reclassifications. He described capital highlights including the acquisition of a knuckle-boom truck, replacement police vehicles, Kate Barnes Park Phase 2, Fire Station air-quality systems, and a tiller apparatus purchase planned to be financed in FY2027.
White also described the transition to a new digital budget platform (OpenGov) intended to improve access to multi-year budget detail and highlighted that the recommended budget reduces reliance on appropriated fund balance compared with the prior year. He said the recommended budget assumes certain retirement and benefit rate changes and anticipates no increase to the garbage/recycling fee.
Council members sought clarity on staffing metrics, the timing of a staffing study White proposed to complete within 10 months, and whether the proposed positions reflect a prioritized plan for growth and new developments cited by members. White said the study would help smooth hiring and better align capacity to needs and that staff will pursue near-term steps to ensure services as the study is completed.
A council member moved to set a public hearing for the recommended budget on June 2, 2025; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
What's next: Staff will publish budget materials, hold the public hearing June 2, take public comment and return to council for adoption.
