Aberdeen board approves FY 2024–25 budget with 5% COLA, modest utility and garbage rate increases

Mayor opened a special-call meeting May 28 to consider the towns proposed fiscal year 2024 625 budget and invited staff presentation and public input. A town staff presenter summarized the draft budget, noting only minor final adjustments remained and that department heads were available for questions.

The budget approved by the board includes a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for town employees and keeps the property tax rate unchanged at $0.42 per $100 valuation. The presenter said the combined proposed budget for general fund and water/sewer is 3,379,000 (the transcript also referenced a prior-year figure of $19,000,004.73); the presenter described the year-over-year increase as modest and primarily attributable to capital spending.

The board approved a recommended 3% increase to the volume portion of water and sewer rates for FY 2024 625; monthly base rates listed in the presentation remain $9 for in-town water and $10.50 for in-town sewer. Presenter explained the 3% volume increase is intended to cover costs and encourage conservation. Garbage collection fees will rise by $1 per month for residential and commercial customers to match an increase in county disposal fees; the presenter stated the new monthly rates as $19 for residential and $21 for commercial.

Capital projects and one-time items included in the budget package include leased police vehicles, fire radios, streets equipment, parking and sidewalk improvements (including Talbot Street work), water production work such as a new well and well replacement, a generator for water and sewer, and continued renovation work at the new library site. The presenter said the town received a $250,000 CBB grant to fund top-lot paving and pedestrian trail work targeted for December completion. The presentation also noted a two-phase sale of the old Avenue Elementary property: phase 1 closing expected in about two weeks and phase 2 roughly 45 days later.

During board discussion members praised staff for producing what several called a balanced budget and emphasized that roughly half of the towns expenditures are consumed by fire and police services. Committee member (speaker 4) moved to approve the fiscal year 2024 625 budget ordinance; the board conducted a voice vote and the mayor announced the motion carried.

The special meeting was then adjourned and the board took a short break before the regular meeting.

Quotes used in this article are taken from the board presentation and meeting record: the presenter said, "we do not need a property tax rate increase" and proposed a 5% COLA; the motion to adopt the budget was stated as, "I'll make a motion that we approve the fiscal year 2024 2025 budget ordinance."