BY STACIE LETT CAIN
Mooresville town commissioners are considering a $108 million budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 that maintains the current property tax rate while calling for increases in solid waste, water and sewer rates, and the stormwater fee.
Town Manager Tracey Jerome presented the proposed spending plan during Monday’s town board meeting. The budget maintains the tax rate at 48.36 cents per $100 of valuation.
If the budget is approved in its current form, solid waste and recycling fees for town residents would increase from $204 to $300 annually.
“It is important to understand that at the proposed level this fund will be self sufficient for the first time up until this point,” Jerome said.
Historically, the town board has subsidized the cost of these services by allocating money from the General Fund.
By increasing the fees in 2026-2027, the town will be able to repurpose $1.6 million in the General Fund to support other services provided by the town.
The budget also includes a proposed 4 percent increase annually for water services and 6 percent hike for sewer services. Proposed storm water rates will increase to $2.25 per month.
“These increases are necessary to keep up with the growth and operating costs,” Jerome explained. “As you know, everything is going up in price. We are keeping these increases at a very steady pace. We want to be able to grow and take care of the community and all of your needs.”
The increases would go into effect on January 1, 2027.
Overall, the total budget of $108,043,684, comes from several areas, but the majority, 55.39 percent comes from property taxes.
According to Jerome, the additions to this year’s budget are in large part aimed at making things better for Mooresville residents.
“The General Fund budgets reflect the continued improvement on customer experience with the addition of the Fire Dispatch Initiative, website redesign and focus on personnel,” she said.
The budget includes funding for four additional police officers, two battalion fire chiefs, and two emergency communication shift supervisors as well as street crew members, traffic crew members and a recreation coordinator.
Current capital projects include a downtown capital project and public safety capital project as well as recreation and culture, transportation and utility and stormwater projects.
The proposed budget has been placed on file with the Town Clerk, with a copy being posted on the town website for public inspection. The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the budget on June 1, with a request for adoption at that time. The new fiscal year will begin July 1, 2026.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board was also asked to vote on the closing of four railroad crossings to vehicle traffic located on Catawba Avenue, Walnut Street, Norman Drive and Patterson Avenue. Two of them are required for the construction of the East/West Connector project and the Timber Road development project.
The Norman Drive crossing had nearly 128 calls for service in the past year for a variety of vehicles being hung up on the tracks, including one memorable one for Mayor Chris Carney.
“I remember one year after a parade the bowling alley trailer got hung up on that crossing,” he shared. “All you could see was a big bowling pin caught on the tracks. I believe that 128 number is probably much higher with the vehicles that get stuck but don’t get called in.”
“All of these closings have been approved by NCDOT and Norfolk Southern Railroad,” Assistant Town Manager Ryan Rase explained. “There will be pedestrian crossings established within a block or two of the closings allowing foot traffic into the downtown area.”
The Resolution of Intent passed unanimously with a public hearing on the matter set for June 15 at 6 p.m.