BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Troutman Town Council passed a resolution opposing state limits on local property taxing authority at its Monday agenda briefing Monday, but after conversation with Iredell County commissioners, the council voted to include additional language in favor of charging impact fees on residential development.
In the amendment, the council strongly urges the N.C. General Assembly to place a constitutional referendum on the ballot authorizing local governments to implement developer impact fees.
The council believes “developer impact fees represent a fair, conservative, and fiscally responsible approach to ensuring that growth helps pay for growth, rather than shifting those costs onto existing residents.”
They emphasize that “local governments should be entrusted with flexibility, subject to voter approval, to utilize impact fees as a tool to fund infrastructure, public safety, and essential services tied directly to new development.”
The council passed the initial resolution on Monday to strongly oppose proposed state legislation that would impose limits on the growth of local property tax revenues, including levy limits and requirements for voter approval to exceed those limits.
Such limitations would significantly restrict the ability of local governments to maintain service levels, respond to growth, and plan responsibly for the future, particularly in communities experiencing continued population increases such as Troutman.
Council members passed the resolution because the town is committed to providing essential public services and maintaining a high quality of life for its residents, including police protection, parks and recreation, street maintenance, and community amenities.
Local governments in North Carolina rely primarily on property tax revenue as their most stable and locally controlled funding source to provide these essential services.
Requiring a municipal vote to exceed arbitrary revenue limits would introduce uncertainty and delay into the funding of essential services that must be maintained without interruption, according to the resolution.
The council believes that since local elected officials are directly accountable to their residents, they are best positioned to make informed decisions regarding taxation and service levels based on community needs.
ABC STORE QUARTERLY REPORT
ABC Store Manager Evelyn Walls said that although ABC store sales statewide are flat or down, the Troutman store posted a 2.7 percent increase (up $20,902) over the third quarter last year.
From the sales came the cost of goods at $199,122, or 54 percent of the sales. Excise taxes were $176,166, with $104,922 spent in operating costs.
Distributions from the quarter were $11,230.97 to the town, and $2807.74 to the Troutman Parks and Recreation Department, the ESC Park fund, and the Troutman Friends of the Library. The four I-SS schools in Troutman will split a distribution share, receiving $701.94 each.
The law enforcement distribution to the Troutman Police Department is $3,431.02, with the Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell receiving $4,803.42 in alcohol education funds.
After all these deductions from the third quarter sales, the store posted a $70,958 net profit.
The store’s sales to date for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are $2,724,943, or 82 percent of the budget’s expected $3,313,000 in sales.
Board Chairman Layton Getsinger now projects, based on actual sales so far this fiscal year, that the store will reach $3.6 million in sales, far exceeding expected growth.
APRIL PROCLAMATIIONS
Mayor Teross Young also made several proclamations recognizing social causes at the meeting.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
He first declared April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in partnership with Iredell County Department of Social Services, Iredell County Guardian Ad-litem Office, Pharos Parenting, Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center, and Iredell County Partnership for Young Children.
The resolution stated that “child well-being is not just a moral imperative, but the foundation for building Troutman’s future success and prosperity.”
“All children deserve to grow up in environments that offer positive childhood experiences that promote healthy mental, physical, and emotional development.”
Communities that have the resources need to ensure all families can access support when they need it, free of judgment or barriers, so they can reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect while promoting parental and family resilience.
Because child abuse and neglect are preventable, Young said the responsibility to help every child meet their full potential lies with every community member, organization, and leader, recognizing that promoting positive experiences for all Troutman families strengthens the future of the town.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration among families, educators, early care providers, health care providers, faith-based organizations, local businesses, social services agencies, law enforcement, and community groups as essential for creating the positive environments and experiences children need to lead healthy, purposeful lives with hope for the future.
“During Child Abuse Prevention Month, we recognize the importance of strengthening families and creating nurturing environments where all children feel supported, connected, and able to thrive,” the mayor said.
Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month
Mayor Young also proclaimed April as National Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month and invited all residents to celebrate the individuals with autism in town who are “so full of joy, love, and hope.”
The proclamation stated that autism is a pervasive developmental disorder affecting the social, learning, and behavioral skills of those affected by it. Autism occurs across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is also four times more common in boys than in girls.
As health professionals become increasingly skilled in diagnosing autism, more children are being identified on the spectrum, with rates as high as one in 54 children. Although there is no cure for autism, evidence shows that early treatment can enable individuals with autism to lead significantly better lives.
Raising awareness of autism’s impacts and promoting acceptance of individuals with autism is important as they face increased challenges in development and socialization.
Mayor Young concluded by saying that Troutman is dedicated to “creating an environment where individuals with autism can live, learn, play, and work while being fully understood and accepted.”
April 25 Declared Parental Alienation Awareness Day
Mayor Young also declared April 25 as Parental Alienation Awareness Day. Young said that the Town of Troutman affirms that every child deserves loving relationships not only with both parents, but also with grandparents, siblings, and extended family members.
He explained that parental alienation is a pattern of behavior, through words, actions, or attitudes, by one parent or caregiver that unjustifiably undermines or severs a child’s bond with the other parent.
This division harms grandparents, siblings, and other relatives. These behaviors often cause grief, loss, and emotional harm that can last for generations.
April 25 is recognized worldwide as “Parental Alienation Awareness Day” to call “attention to the emotional and psychological damage alienation causes and urging communities to respond with education, compassion, and intervention.”
Children and family members affected by alienation may experience depression, anxiety, relational dysfunction, and identity struggles, but these harms can be reduced through early recognition, counseling, and legal remedies.
Mayor Young said the Town of Troutman “stands with families impacted by parental alienation and encourages schools, mental health professionals, faith communities, and civic leaders to work together to protect and restore healthy family bonds.”
He encouraged all citizens “to join in raising awareness, promoting education, and supporting efforts to safeguard relationships between children, parents, and their extended families.”
OTHER DISCUSSION
Town Manager Justin Longino reminded council members and the public about the council’s upcoming budget retreats. On Wednesday, April 22, the council will focus on the general fund budget priorities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. On Thursday, April 23, the council will focus on the utility fund expenditures for the new fiscal year.
The last spring leaf and limb pickup will on Monday, April 20.
Longino also reminded residents that the Troutman Citizen and Organization of the Year nominations are due to Town Hall by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20. Applications are available online on the town website (“Forms” section) or in the Town Hall lobby.
Council member Eddie Nau asked for an update on the status of Prestige developer’s remediation of their destruction of a 100-foot buffer between the Wakefield development and the Barium Seasons neighborhood that was supposed to remain undisturbed trees and brush.
He also asked for the status of a proposed ZIP Code change that had been previously discussed to make Wakefield and other town areas currently with a Statesville address changed to the Troutman ZIP Code.
Additionally, Nau asked if there had been any discussion of a post office being put in the new Wakefield development area after the closing of barium Springs post office and the additional traffic and pressure on the Troutman post office as a result.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council also unanimously adopted:
♦ The Town of Troutman Strategic Plan.
♦ An ordinance to amend the Town of Troutman FY 2025-2026 Budget to create a Special Revenue Fund to collect and distribute all occupancy taxes received by the town for their designated purposes to fund tourism-related promotion, marketing, and infrastructure Development. The ordinance will move $7,000 in previously collected revenues to this fund.
♦ An ordinance to amend the Town of Troutman 2025-2026 Budget to move $20,500 from fund balance to cover higher than expected fiscal year economic development costs for a tax grant incentive for C.R. Onsrud (capped at a maximum of $340,000 over five years according to a 2022 agreement between the town and the company).
♦ Amendments for $50,000 in additional engineering costs to West Consultants for Capital Project Ordinances for the Shinn Creek Regional Sewer Pump Station and an additional $50,000 in engineering costs for the Wastewater Transmission Project. Both will be funded from Water and Sewer fund revenues.
♦ A resolution authorizing Longino to market and negotiate the sale of Keystone building, which has attracted much interest. The Liat building has also been shown to one perspective buyer.