Roanoke Rapids council adopts ordinance to boost FY2025 occupancy-tax budget

The Roanoke Rapids City Council approved Ordinance No. 2025.03 to increase the city’s FY2025 occupancy-tax budget after a finance briefing and short discussion.

Finance Director Miss Johnson told the council the city had originally estimated occupancy-tax receipts at $77,000 but tourism projections now put receipts at about $114,000 for the year. "We had originally estimated our budget at 77,000, but based on what they are saying that we'll receive this year, it's gonna be more like a 114,000," Johnson said.

Johnson read a proposed budget-amendment ordinance to implement the change; the transcript records two slightly different amendment figures when the ordinance was read aloud. In one reading she cited "ordinance number 20 25.03 in the amount of $37,002.77," and the mayor later announced the ordinance as "20 25.03 in amount of $37,277.50." The council did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the mayor moved adoption, Mr. Strickland made the motion and Mr. Jackson seconded, and the council approved the motion by voice vote.

The ordinance implements an increase tied to higher-than-expected tourism receipts and would be reimbursed to the city by the tourism authority, Johnson said. The finance director also noted broader finances in later discussion, reporting year-to-date receipts and expenditures that show revenues exceeding expenditures for the fiscal year to date.

The council then proceeded to other business, including the city manager’s report and a personnel discussion before adjourning.