Elkin board approves $20,000 audit contract, Woodland Drive water-line and outlines FY26–27 budget changes

The Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the Town of Elkin met April 24, 2026, and approved several budget items for the FY26–27 draft budget, including a $20,000 annual audit contract and a $20,000 extension of the Woodland Drive water line.

Finance Director Dina Reavis presented the annual audit contract from auditor Eddie Currick and said the contract amount would remain at $20,000. Commissioner Graham Ray moved to approve the audit contract; Commissioner Jeff Eidson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Town Manager Brent Cornelison gave a multi-point budget update, flagging cost pressures and proposed adjustments. Cornelison reported projected increases for insurance (+2.4%), Waste Management (+5%), and the town's water-plant/Veolia contract (+4.4%), and recommended a 2.5% COLA/merit pool. He proposed raising the minimum utility charge and the volume metric by $0.25 and increasing rates for 1" meters and larger.

Staff also proposed a $150,000 fund-balance build/contingency and a change to the vehicle fee, increasing it from $5 to $15; the board designated the additional vehicle-fee revenue for sidewalks and paving. Cornelison listed a $19,000 allocation for Surry County inspections.

On nonprofit and community funding, Cornelison said the draft budget includes $80,000 for the local library and that the Northwestern Regional Library requested an additional $2,500 annually to cover rising insurance costs. After reviewing the Arts Council's submitted financial and program summary, which staff said showed the council operating at a profit, the board withdrew a previously budgeted $9,000 for the Arts Council and redirected those funds to support Main Street "Light Up Night," including a planned drone light show.

The draft also retains up to $5,000 for Foothills Theater play rights, $15,000 for fireworks, and $5,000 for the Rescue Squad. The Rescue Squad indicated flexibility if funds were reallocated; staff recommended moving $2,500 of the Rescue Squad allocation to the Elkin library and using the remaining $2,500 to support the Main Street event.

Cornelison presented additional budget items including $47,000 for code enforcement, new finance software estimated at $52,800 (to be split between the General Fund and the Water Fund), and an estimated $3,900 to make the town website ADA compliant — which staff described as a legal requirement under North Carolina law.

On infrastructure, Cornelison outlined an estimated $20,000 cost to extend the water line on Woodland Drive. Commissioner Jeff Eidson moved to approve the extension; Commissioner Graham Ray seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Cornelison said the budget message will be ready for the May 2026 meeting and that a public hearing on the budget approval will be held at the June 2026 regular meeting. Commissioner Cicely McCulloch moved to adjourn; Commissioner Alvin Hayes seconded and the meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Audit contract — motion by Commissioner Graham Ray, seconded by Commissioner Jeff Eidson; passed unanimously. Woodland Drive water-line extension — motion by Commissioner Jeff Eidson, seconded by Commissioner Graham Ray; passed unanimously. Adjournment — motion by Commissioner Cicely McCulloch, seconded by Commissioner Alvin Hayes; passed unanimously.