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City staff outline staffing, technology and capital requests; utility rates recommended to rise 10%
Summary
Department directors briefed the council on FY27 staffing and capital priorities — including HR, IT, inspections, public works and parks — while finance staff presented a Stantec recommendation for a 10% water and sewer rate increase and staff reported an 80% federal award (about $4 million) toward a pump‑station upgrade.
Department directors presented detailed FY27 requests at Mebane’s budget work session, highlighting personnel needs, technology investments and capital projects that will shape the manager’s recommended budget.
Grants and major capital: City administration (City Manager Preston Mitchell, S1) told council the city was notified by congressional and Senate offices that federal funding was awarded to support the GE pump station and force main replacement — about 80% of the project cost, which staff estimated at approximately $4,000,000 — and that the city must fund the remaining 20%. Staff said a formal federal paperwork package remained outstanding.
Staffing and HR: Human Resources (speaker 5) requested a human resources analyst to help manage claims and training, noting the department recorded 67 workers’‑compensation claims over the last three years and would implement additional NEOGOV modules (recruiting/onboarding/performance). HR presented an FY27 operating/personnel total of $629,865 and emphasized an upcoming comprehensive personnel‑policy update.
IT and operations: The IT director (speaker 11) proposed converting a contracted role to an in‑house technology specialist to cut long‑term costs and build institutional knowledge; IT also reported network segmentation, free park Wi‑Fi and vendor work on a potential municipal app and cybersecurity failover hosting in Raleigh. IT warned of supply‑chain‑driven price increases of 20–30% for some capital items.
Public works & fleet: Public Works (speaker 13) requested two positions focused on stormwater, an 80x200 equipment shed (capital estimate $1,568,000), a jetter for pipe cleaning and other vehicle replacements. Sanitation staff proposed acquiring an 8‑cubic‑yard rear‑load garbage truck to improve safety on dead‑end streets and reduce need for expensive street turnarounds; staff said the truck would also be helpful for special downtown and event routes.
Inspections & development: The inspections team (speaker 15) listed major projects in review or construction (Walmart expansion, Duke Primary Care, La Quinta, Target‑area development, Keystone Apartments, Home2 Suites), reported high inspection volumes and requested a building inspector position and vehicle; planning staff said they would implement Mebane 2045 items and a circulator bus pilot with Orange County.
Utilities and fees: Finance staff (speaker 3) presented fee‑schedule redlines and said the Stantec study recommended a 10% increase in water and sewer rates for the coming year; finance also noted a statutory provision (general statute 160A‑314a referenced in the presentation) that allows different deposit or fee rules where Social Security data are withheld.
Next steps: Staff will refine numbers and incorporate council feedback ahead of the April 9 work session and the city manager’s recommended budget on May 4; the council aims to adopt the final budget by June 30, per state requirement.
