City manager recommends $72.7M Mebane budget with proposed 2‑cent property tax increase

Mayor Hooks presented the city manager's recommended fiscal year 2026–27 budget during the Positively Mebane May 2026 update, describing a balanced, forward-looking $72,700,000 proposal that will go before the city council for discussion and a vote at the June 1 city council meeting.

"It's a balanced, forward looking budget that supports high-quality services, strategic infrastructure investments, and the continued growth of our community," Mayor Hooks said. She said the recommendation reflects priorities from the mayor, council, staff, advisory boards and residents.

Key elements Mayor Hooks highlighted include a proposed 2‑cent property tax increase (the first city property tax increase since fiscal year 2014–15, she said), a planned Fire Station 4 on the city's west side intended to improve response times, roughly 11 new positions across departments (including firefighters, stormwater maintenance and utility staff), and continued utility investments including a water resource recovery facility expansion. Mayor Hooks said the recommended budget includes a proposed utility-rate impact of about $8 per month for the average customer.

The mayor emphasized the recommendation is not final: the city manager's proposal will be presented to the council and must be discussed and voted on at the June 1 council meeting. No vote or formal council action on the overall budget was taken during the update.

Next steps: City council review and public discussion are scheduled at the June 1 meeting; details on final tax-rate language, exact staffing start dates, and a detailed rate study were not provided during the update.