Randleman manager presents $13.47M budget with no property tax increase; water, sewer and stormwater fees to rise

City Manager Hank Raper presented the City of Randleman’s proposed FY2026-27 Annual Operating Budget at the Board of Alderman special meeting on May 20, 2026, saying the budget is balanced and complies with North Carolina General Statute 159‑11 and the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.

Raper told the board the total budget across the General Fund, Powell Bill Fund, and Water & Sewer Fund is $13,470,566 and that the recommended plan holds the ad valorem tax rate at $0.63 per $100 valuation. He emphasized the administration’s goal of maintaining fiscal discipline while addressing infrastructure, public-safety, and organizational needs.

Key budget proposals and figures Raper outlined include a proposed increase in stormwater fees (residential from $3.50 to $5.00 and nonresidential from $12.50 to $15.00); a 16% target increase in water/sewer revenue driven by a suggested increase in the usage charge for inside-city customers from $9.99 to $12.50 per additional 1,000 gallons (outside-city usage would rise from $19.99 to $25.00); and retention of the base water and sewer rates at roughly $27.30 for inside-city customers and $54.65 for outside-city customers. Raper cited notice from the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority of higher wholesale costs (PTRWA rates up 6% and dues up 4.5%) and the loss of Deep River Dyeing, Inc. as drivers for the proposed rate changes.

On personnel, Raper recommended a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for full‑time city employees (to be superseded where the proposed Pay Study yields a larger increase). He listed implementation costs for the pay-study process at $99,374.61 and a separate recalibration line of $61,122.35 across funds. Staff requested six new full-time positions for FY2026‑27: one custodian, one downtown development manager, one public works technician and three firefighters, and proposed new job classifications including Fire Cadet, Public Works Technicians I–IV, Wastewater Operators I–IV, Police Corporal, Police Captain, and a Human Resources Manager.

Raper also reviewed capital and equipment requests: three upfitted Dodge Durangos for the police fleet at $251,756 (alternative quote of $264,851 for Ford F‑150s), roofing quotes for the recreation center ranging from $2,756 for repairs to $73,169 for a full retrofit, and an estimated $200,000 for a new crane truck for fleet maintenance. He projected ABC Net Profits revenue dropping from $325,000 to $85,000, recommended budgeting $1,820,000 for Sales and Use Tax receipts and $525,000 for investment interest, and estimated sanitation revenue at $348,531 while noting the sanitation enterprise is about 30% below self-sufficiency.

Raper recommended creating a separate Powell Bill fund to segregate state street-aid revenues and use a portion for an Academy Street sidewalk project, and announced that McGill Associates will perform a stormwater study and Pavement Navigators will perform a pavement condition survey to guide longer-term capital planning.

"Finally, I would like to thank Mayor Betts and the Board of Alderman for their continued support throughout the creation of this budget," Raper read in conclusion, recommending the proposed FY2026‑27 budget for adoption. The transcript records that the board adjourned after the presentation; the meeting record does not show a formal adoption vote on the budget at this session.

The proposed budget contains multiple items that would require further action or formal votes by the board — for example, fee ordinance changes for stormwater or water/sewer rate adjustments and any personnel hires — before they take effect.