Gates County manager recommends three‑cent tax increase, higher water and waste fees in FY27 budget

Gates County Manager Scott Sauer on Tuesday presented a recommended FY2026–27 budget that would require a three‑cent increase in the county's property tax rate — from $0.67 to $0.70 per $100 of assessed value — if the board adopts his proposal.

Sauer told the Board of Commissioners the recommendation includes a 5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees and other personnel costs. "The recommended budget as it stands is a three‑penny increase to the tax rate from 67 to 70 cents," he said, noting that one penny would cover baseline needs while two additional pennies would fund the 5% COLA.

The budget message also recommends changes to water and solid‑waste fees tied to infrastructure and operating needs. Citing a recent rate study, Sauer said a typical four‑person household using 7,000 gallons a month would see the monthly water bill rise to about $55.75 under the recommended FY27 schedule — a roughly 24.7% increase compared with current charges for the same usage. The proposed base monthly charge would move from $14.50 to $19, with revised per‑thousand‑gallon tiers and a conservation rate above 4,000 gallons.

To address a cash‑flow shortfall in the regional convenience‑center/solid‑waste program, the draft budget includes an annual $20 increase to the availability fee (currently $240), billed on the property tax card, representing roughly an 8.3% bump for that service.

Sauer described utilities as a long‑standing priority: Gates County's water and sewer systems were designated a "distressed unit" in 2022 and the board has pursued state funding and infrastructure repairs since. He said pilot testing related to elevated fluoride in groundwater is ongoing and that USDA Rural Development funding secured for a community center will be disbursed on a project completion basis.

The manager also outlined several staffing changes included in the draft: creation of a full‑time elections specialist (replacing two part‑time roles), funding for a procurement specialist in finance, rolling an additional deputy into the regular sheriff budget, and part‑time positions for DSS reception and community‑center recreation assistance.

Sauer recommended a public‑hearing timeline and posted the full budget message and detailed line‑item addendum online. He said the board must make the budget available for public inspection for at least 10 days before a June public hearing; the board scheduled a public hearing for June 17 and will hold a joint meeting with the Board of Education on June 1.

Board members pressed staff for clarifications on operational details: payment options for water billing (card payments are available at the window with a $3 administrative fee), a reserve to support regional library wage adjustments, and historical water‑billing collection rates — which staff reported had improved to about a 6% write‑off last year from much higher levels in previous years.

Sauer emphasized the proposal is recommended, not final, and the board will consider revisions and public input before any adoption. "This budget needs to stand available to the public for inspection," he said, urging further review during upcoming work sessions.

Next steps: the board will hold work sessions and the public hearing in June and continue joint discussions with the school system before finalizing appropriations.