Garner staff previews 2026 legislative agenda; council asked for input on annexation and retirement-system funding
November 26, 2025 | Garner, Wake County, North Carolina
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The Garner Town Council previewed a draft 2026 legislative agenda at its Nov. 25 work session, with Assistant Town Manager John Hodges asking the council for feedback ahead of a planned update in January.
Hodges summarized the General Assembly calendar and said staff revised a prior draft to reflect actions this year that affected Garner’s extraterritorial jurisdiction work. He said the packet and on-screen materials begin with local initiatives — including a proposed charter amendment to increase settlement authority for the town manager and an electronic notice authorization the town previously pitched but did not secure in the earlier part of the biennium.
Hodges then outlined four priority initiatives staff recommends the council adopt as the core of the agenda. The first is language opposing bills that would limit municipal authority over zoning and development; the second supports economic development through funding for transportation, water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure. The third is a new addition: staff proposed including support for state investment strategies that ‘‘ensure full funding and long term sustainability of the North Carolina local government employees retirement system’’ (the packet referenced this item as "ELJRS"). The fourth calls for support of full funding for public education to strengthen classrooms and workforce development.
Councilmembers offered feedback. Councilmember Behringer emphasized the importance of the education-funding priority. Councilmember Dellinger asked whether Garner should support the League of Municipalities' annexation-threshold goal and requested more background; Hodges said staff will gather additional information from the League and return with a recommendation.
Hodges said staff will refine the draft and bring a more detailed update to council (likely in January) before finalizing a version to share with Garner’s legislative delegation. Sam Bridal, the town’s legislative aide referenced in the packet, attended the meeting to hear council input.
No formal vote was taken; staff asked council members to continue forwarding ideas and to channel suggestions through Assistant Town Manager Hodges.
Hodges summarized the General Assembly calendar and said staff revised a prior draft to reflect actions this year that affected Garner’s extraterritorial jurisdiction work. He said the packet and on-screen materials begin with local initiatives — including a proposed charter amendment to increase settlement authority for the town manager and an electronic notice authorization the town previously pitched but did not secure in the earlier part of the biennium.
Hodges then outlined four priority initiatives staff recommends the council adopt as the core of the agenda. The first is language opposing bills that would limit municipal authority over zoning and development; the second supports economic development through funding for transportation, water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure. The third is a new addition: staff proposed including support for state investment strategies that ‘‘ensure full funding and long term sustainability of the North Carolina local government employees retirement system’’ (the packet referenced this item as "ELJRS"). The fourth calls for support of full funding for public education to strengthen classrooms and workforce development.
Councilmembers offered feedback. Councilmember Behringer emphasized the importance of the education-funding priority. Councilmember Dellinger asked whether Garner should support the League of Municipalities' annexation-threshold goal and requested more background; Hodges said staff will gather additional information from the League and return with a recommendation.
Hodges said staff will refine the draft and bring a more detailed update to council (likely in January) before finalizing a version to share with Garner’s legislative delegation. Sam Bridal, the town’s legislative aide referenced in the packet, attended the meeting to hear council input.
No formal vote was taken; staff asked council members to continue forwarding ideas and to channel suggestions through Assistant Town Manager Hodges.
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