Wilson's Mills council reviews draft budget, confronts $33,000 shortfall and schedules May 14 follow-up

Town Manager Leighanna Worley presented an updated fiscal-year budget to the Wilson's Mills Town Council on April 27, saying the spreadsheet’s red notes show what changed since the last draft and that projections from the North Carolina League of Municipalities had shifted. She told council the town is expected to receive $126,000 in SRO grant funding this year to support two school-resource officers — one at the elementary school and one at the new high school — and that amount is reflected in the draft.

Worley also proposed a $40,000 Powell Bill fund-balance appropriation for street repairs in addition to $90,000 listed as Powell Bill revenue, saying the combined $130,000 is reflected in Public Works expenditures. “The notes in red are what have changed since their last spreadsheet,” Worley said, and she described line-item adjustments across departments, including increases to LP gas for the Public Works shop heater and added funds for a camera at Wilson’s Mills Road and Fire Department Road.

Council discussed departmental line items in detail. Worley explained salaries, FICA, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and a proposed 5 percent town 401(k) match for contributing employees were calculated from a recent salary study. She said the town is required by state law to contribute to a separate LEO 401(k) for sworn officers, and the town’s additional 401(k) match is a separate line.

Public Works wish-list equipment (a mower, shop heater, propane, and signpost driver) totaled about $21,000; park projects included a $20,000 storage building request and maintenance funds for the dog park. Worley noted a splashpad line remained on the spreadsheet in error and is not budgeted. After listing all wish items totaling about $352,000, she said the draft left an estimated deficit of approximately $33,000 and recommended using leftover funds to help replenish the town’s Fund Balance.

Council and staff also discussed whether the Town could contract animal-control services with the county. Worley said the county previously advised Wilson’s Mills it would need to handle animal control after establishing a maintenance and police department and that contracting would incur costs. Chief Williams added that staffing a sworn officer in an animal-control position is difficult and staff have discussed a non-sworn Animal Control employee who would complete training and could serve as SRO backup.

Council agreed to hold another budget session to finalize numbers. Worley asked for a follow-up meeting, and the council set a budget-work session for May 14 at 5:00 p.m. The session recessed following unanimous motions to enter and exit closed sessions earlier in the meeting.