BY DEBBIE PAGE

Troutman Town Council members reviewed the proposed 2023-2024 budget created by Town Manager Ron Wyatt and Finance Director Justin Mundy on Wednesday, going line by line through each department to ensure community and staff needs were met while moving the town forward to meeting its goals.

In building the budget, Mundy looked at each budget line item for the last to years to project growth and inflation. He believes his 2023-2024 revenue projections are realistic but conservative.

“I don’t want to count on money that may not come,” Mundy explained.

Mundy said the budget was based revenues from a tax rate of 50 cents per $100 valuation, a reduction from the current rate of 52 cents in Troutman.

2023-2024 Revenue Projections

Mundy expects ad valorem tax revenues for the town to rise to $6,326,880, up from from $3,954,695 this fiscal year, as a result of higher property valuations after the countywide property reassessment.

Local sales tax revenues for the town are also expected to increase by nearly $223,000.

The town will also earn significantly more interest after Mundy sought out higher yield accounts amid now higher interest rates for the town’s investments, rising from $2,000 this year to an expected $100,000 next fiscal year.

Powell Bill and state “hold-harmless” revenues will also add another projected $70,000. Town fees (park rentals, permits, planning reviews) are expected to increase as well, yielding the town another $50,000 with higher demand for these facilities and services.

2023-2024 Expenditures

Departmental expenditures are increasing with the addition of more employees and the need for more services as the population increases. Wyatt, however, reminded council members and the community that although the population has increased by 40 percent over the last 10 years, the budget and staffing have not.

“I appreciate all that employees do to carry their weight and then some,” added Wyatt, noting the town’s emphasis on increasing efficiency and streamlining services with improved technology and online services.

PLANNING AND ZONING

The Planning and Zoning Department is asking for a nearly $218,000 bump ($586,429 to $804,326) next year.

Much of the increase is in the $150,000 “Special Project” line item, which includes the grant match for the Mobility Plan and $125,000 to hire a consultant to create a new Town Hall master plan, including the creation of a town business and retail center surrounding the new Town Hall.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Troutman Police Department is asking for a nearly $731,000 increase to $2,712,738, including funds to hire four additional officers to meet demand for coverage during training absences and vacations and to serve and protect the growing population and town limits.

Chief Josh Watson wants to create four patrol teams of two officers and a supervisor, and two of the new officers will be hired as K-9 handlers.

Watson is also requesting $57,500 to purchase two trained K-9s ($27,000) and cover start-up kennel, patrol car cages ($20,000), training, equipment, and care costs. After the first year, K-9 costs would average only $3,000 to $4,000 for food and veterinary care.

Rising costs for vehicle maintenance, technology, gas, and uniforms rounded out the additional expense increases. The department is also upgrading first aid kits and purchasing four to six automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to carry in patrol cars to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

Contracted services also will rise with the purchase and service for four additional lenslock cameras and four axon tasers for the new officers.

Watson is also asking for two more vehicles for the new officers at a cost of $118,226.

PARKS AND RECREATION

The Parks and Recreation budget request for next year increased just over $177,000, rising to $506,960.

Much of the cost is (approximately $166,237) is for the salaries, insurance, retirement, and social security costs for two additional full-time employees to serve the town’s growing park and recreational needs.

The department now has three full-time staff members and three part-time staff who do park and general maintenance for the town.

Rising maintenance, supply, and contracted services account for other higher expenses.

The department’s budget request also includes $55,000 to replace and upgrade park equipment.

Director Emily Watson’s goal is to complete the ESC Park Master Plan as soon as possible, including getting construction of the new concession area and bathrooms near the baseball fields underway in the coming year.

The town has been saving for this project for the last two years (accumulating $425,000) and is proposing adding an additional $325,000 in the 2023-2024 budget to fully fund this addition to the park.

Watson also plans to survey the community about one possible update to the 2010 park master plan – possibly swapping the horse shoe pits for pickle ball courts ($200,000) to better reflect the community’s changing tastes.

The town has asked for additional state funding for the ESC Park and is hoping to receive around $1 million to help fund the remaining Master Plan park projects.

Watson is also finalizing a new online reservation platform for park and other facility rentals and scheduling and for other recreational activities.

The town is also setting aside $60,000 for a pocket park renovation at the end of Massey and Georgie Streets. The park was built by South Trace developers but never taken over by an HOA because the neighborhood never formed one.

The current development homeowners each technically own a small percentage of the pocket park property, which is 20 years in tax arrears, not properly maintained, and has no liability insurance, making all the homeowners liable for any injuries on the property.

The town is beginning to approach South Trace homeowners, asking them to sign over the property to the town for renovation and maintenance. One hundred percent of homeowners must sign over the rights to the property to deed it to the town.

GOVERNING BODY

Proposed expenditures for the governing body will increase from $147,885 to $186,100, necessitated by increased costs for professional and contracted services and an additional $3,000 added for special events, paid for by a renewable grant, for wellness activities for staff, which might include things such as diabetes support, CPR training, smoking cessation, weight loss, or a health fair.

Governing body costs also include elected officials stipends ($24,600), training and travel costs, professional dues, supplies, and advertising.

The town must also contribute $2,000 toward the cost of this year’s elections.

ADMINISTRATION

The requested administration budget is rising to $928,497, up from $740,381 this fiscal year. Rising insurance, retirement, maintenance and repair, technology, and supply costs, as well as a $50,000 increase in Iredell County tax collection fees and a $13,000 increase in contracted services account for some of the increase.

Mundy reminded council members that the county’s tax collection fee (a percentages of taxes collected) increases as the amount of taxes Troutman receives rises.

Departmental supplies are increasing with the one-time equipment needed for the passport office position, but collected fees will offset this cost and the cost of the position.

The town is also investing $100,000 in security cameras around town facilities, the Depot, and ESC Park to increase safety and deter vandalism.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The town has purchased the building next to its current property at 151 Wagner Street, and both need renovation at a total cost of $300,000. The two buildings are part of the town’s efforts to spark downtown development and beautify the Wagner Street corridor.

The town also previously purchased two houses across the street that have been cleaned up and enhanced and bring in rental income.

OTHER

Insurance for the increasing number of town facilities and properties as well as bonds for employees are increasing from $110,000 to 150,000.

Mundy is asking to transfer $1,250,000 to the facilities fund toward the building of a new Town Hall.

Mundy proposes continuing to add $100,000 to the Greenway Expansion Fund.

Garbage collection is up $25,000, recycling $15,000 and leaf and limb collection $25,000 because of additional town residences and streets.

The one-person street maintenance department, employing the town mechanic, is asking for several increases, including $4,000 more for street lights, $3,300 more for supplies, $5,000 more for street patching, and $10,000 more in street sweeping contracted services.

UTILITY BUDGET

The utility budget is a separate, self-sustaining area of the town’s finances for which ad valorem and sales tax revenues may not be used.

Projected revenues for 2023-2024 are $4,656,700, up from $3,458,655 this fiscal year. Mundy expects water and sewer availability fees and water and sewer installation fees to continue to increase with growth.

Utility administration costs are expected to be $584,081, up from $389,300 this year.

Training, new software and equipment, and a new modern billing system ($75,000) also increased the utility administration’s budget requests over last fiscal year.

Purchase of utility capital items includes $233,000 in sewer capacity and $135,000 for a dump truck.

Utility maintenance costs are up nearly $542,000 because Mundy moved all but one of public works salaries into this fund to more accurately reflect their job descriptions.

The budget request also adds one new maintenance position to a department now with the same number of employees as it had in 2008, added public Works Director Adam Lippard, despite the town’s growth in the last 15 years.

Mundy is also requesting $200,000 in contracted services for engineering expenditures for water and sewer projects, but he noted the town gets reimbursed for much of these service costs through state Asset Inventory and Assessment Grants.

Mundy expects a major increase ($175,000) in water purchase costs because of increased customer growth and a 6.1 percent water price increase from Energy United. He also anticipates a $135,000 increase in sewer treatment fees with this population growth

The Utilities Department also requested for $200,000 in capital outlay equipment for an air compressor, forestry track loader, and a mulcher.

Mundy also asked to move $466,400 out of the utility capital reserve fund if the town needs to buy more blocks of sewer capacity from Mooresville in 2023-2024.