Harrisburg council adopts FY2027 budget with no tax-rate increase; water and sewer rates to rise 5%

The Town of Harrisburg council voted to adopt the manager’s recommended FY2027 budget ordinance, the schedule of fees and the capital-improvement plan, and separately set the town’s ad valorem tax rate at $0.41 per $100 valuation.

Town Manager Rob summarized the budget in a public hearing before the vote, saying the headline is “there is no tax increase,” marking the third straight year the town maintained the same rate. The approved general-fund spending was presented as $36.3 million with the three major operating funds (general, water & sewer, stormwater) totaling $51.9 million. Rob said the budget reduces general-fund spending 2.9% from the previous year while preserving service levels and investing in economic development, public safety and transportation.

Finance Director Brian Lee reported revenue performance through May showing tax collections at 102% of estimate and general-fund revenue at about 99% of estimate, projecting the fiscal year to finish near budgeted targets.

Rob also told the council the water and sewer fund will pass a 5% rate increase to customers to cover incremental costs charged to the town by external wholesale providers for water and sewer treatment. “We really have no control over that by the way,” Rob said, describing the pass-through nature of those charges.

The council approved the budget by motion (motion carried) and then approved the motion to set the tax rate at $0.41 per $100 valuation and to authorize collection by the Cabaris County Tax Office; both motions passed without recorded roll-call tallies in the public transcript.

Next steps: the budget and fee schedule take effect under the adopted ordinance and staff will post adopted budget documents on the town website for public inspection.