Mount Airy council postpones design award for town‑hall Phase 2 until FY2027 budget approval

Council members on March 2 postponed action on staff’s recommendation to award Moseley Designs (Moseley/Mosley spelling in materials) $95,504 for 100% design work on town-hall Phase 2 (rear addition and stairwell). Staff and the presenting consultant explained phase 1 upgrades were complete and that Phase 2 design had a proposal in hand; the FY2026 budget has roughly $24,000 available and the remainder ($71,504) was proposed to be taken from the FY2027 budget.

Several council members expressed concern about approving a commitment that relies on next year’s proposed budget before that budget is publicly reviewed and adopted. Council president said the issue was not opposition to the work but process and precedent: approving funds tied to an unapproved budget could set an undesirable precedent. After discussion the council voted to table/postpone the award until the June meeting following adoption of the FY2027 budget.

Staff said Moseley could proceed with limited design work using the $24,000 currently available if the council wanted interim progress; the council chose to wait for full budget adoption before awarding the full design contract.