Winfall council debates $800,000 transfer and proposed sewer rate hike

The Town of Winfall’s council and staff reviewed the proposed FY2026-27 budget at a June 15 workshop, where officials debated moving $800,000 from the town’s operating account into a money-market account and discussed proposed sewer-rate increases projected to add roughly $300,000 in revenue.

Valerie Jackson, the town’s clerk and finance officer, said the $800,000 transfer could “leave insufficient funds” to meet day-to-day obligations and questioned whether the interest rate cited by council members had been confirmed. Councilman Ronald Smirlock, who led a line-by-line review of the draft budget, said the transfer would earn substantially more interest — he referenced an approximate 4% rate — and noted the funds could be moved back into the operating account if needed.

Councilman Robert Valentine described proposed sewer-rate adjustments and told the council the change is projected to increase sewer revenues by about $300,000. Jackson said the town has historically not collected that level of sewer revenue and questioned whether the projection would be realized. Valentine responded that higher rates for commercial and small-business accounts would help close the gap.

Valentine also raised a separate concern about the recurring practice of borrowing $100,000 from town accounts and repaying it annually, asking whether the council should reclassify those funds as a permanent transfer rather than a loan requiring repayment.

The council took two routine actions at the workshop: it approved the meeting agenda unanimously on a motion by Smirlock and second by Mayor Pro-Tem Cynthia Cunningham, and it adjourned at 6:01 p.m. A public hearing on the proposed budget was scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., to receive public comment and consider adoption.