Wilson's Mills adopts $4.92 million budget, holds tax rate at $0.50

The Town of Wilson's Mills on June 15 adopted a $4,918,776 budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and kept the property tax rate at $0.50 per $100 of assessed value.

Town Manager Leighanna Worley presented the recommended budget during a public hearing, telling council, "I am pleased to present to you a balanced Recommended Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027." Worley said the town expects to collect an estimated $3,357,351 in current-year ad valorem taxes and projected vehicle-tax revenue of $222,500.

The budget allocates $1,087,876 for general government, $735,611 for administration, $2,093,467 for police, $561,444 for public works, $368,878 for planning and $71,500 for parks and events. It assumes no general fund balance appropriated for operations and relies on Powell Bill funds, grants and shared sales tax distributions for specific projects.

The council approved new staffing in the police department: one full-time lieutenant and an additional full-time school resource officer to serve the new Wilson's Mills High School expected to open with limited capacity in fall 2026. The budget also includes a tiered salary-grade adjustment across departments and a 10% average increase budgeted for benefits, reflecting specific increases of 9.5% for health and 8.51% for dental coverage.

Worley said receipts from the Johnston County tax scroll received June 1 reduced the ad valorem estimate by about $30,000 and that the town will await the audit to confirm final fund-balance percentages. She also noted the storage-building allocation for events was reduced from $30,000 to $15,000 in favor of a smaller structure planned to use solar power.

Councilmember David McGowan moved to adopt the budget ordinance; Councilmember Doris Riley seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The ordinance sets departmental expenditure authorizations and revenue estimates and goes into effect July 1, 2026.

Council members and staff said the budget advances items in the town's 2026–2031 Strategic Plan and seeks to maintain public-safety staffing as the town grows. The finance director and manager said further budget clarifications will be finalized when the town's audit is complete.

The council closed the public hearing portion of the meeting before voting to adopt the ordinance.