Town manager warns state tax bills could squeeze services; proposes 1.5¢ increase for Fletcher Fire and Rescue

At a Fletcher Town Council meeting, the town manager warned that recently introduced state bills that would limit local tax levies and delay property revaluations could constrain town revenues and proposed a 1.5¢ property tax-rate increase dedicated to Fletcher Fire and Rescue as part of budget preparations.

The manager told the council staff will present a full budget at a Thursday morning meeting and said the 1.5¢ increase is specifically "dedicated for the needs of the fire department, Fletcher Fire and Rescue." He added that he had "balanced" a draft budget and that he did not recommend rate increases for other parts of the budget at this stage.

The memo to the council framed the state measures as two developments: a Senate bill that could impose a one-year moratorium on revaluations and a House bill that would cap the overall tax levy. "There's not a lot of other details like how much it would limit the tax levy," the manager said, and he said he planned to contact legislators in Raleigh to explain potential local impacts.

The manager urged council members to consider strategies such as expanding income-based exemptions or pursuing local-option sales-tax adjustments to offset revenue losses. He noted that property taxes are the primary revenue source the town controls locally and said—based on his calculations—about "44% of our budget's going to police and fire," stressing the risk to core public-safety services.

The manager also said Fletcher Fire and Rescue Chief Robert Griffin had drafted a letter to Jennifer Balcom outlining the department's concerns and impacts and that staff would share information publicly as the bills progress. The manager characterized some measures as likely to move forward in the legislature and said outreach to state representatives is planned.

A resident who spoke during public comment earlier in the meeting, Joe Black of 340 Howard Gap Road, urged the council to "do better" on traffic safety after hearing that a town street sweeper was struck by a vehicle and recounted a recent family fatality on a highway as part of his concerns about road safety; the manager's remarks on public safety funding followed that exchange.

Next steps: staff will present a full budget at the scheduled Thursday meeting and the council will hold a public hearing on other land-use items next week; the manager will follow up with legislators about the proposed state tax measures.