City budget $53.9 million
City Manager Marilyn Sellers updated the Council on the major budget highlights for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 during a special meeting held on June 14. The budget ordinance before them was $53,904.833.
Highlights of the budget included:
• No property tax rate increase, which remains at .43 cents per $100. Each penny on the tax rate generates approximately $190,000. The city has one of the lowest rates in the region and the state and no change is recommended at this time. The city must continue to evaluate annually, given the economy and inflation and increase in recurring costs and the ability of the Electric Fund to transfer monies. City of Kings Mountain is approximately 8 cents below their peer group average as defined by the Local Government Commission and we offer more services. The city offers several services, the tax rate is lower and there are very few in their peer group that operate their own water source, Moss Lake, and operates the Senior Center and a municipal library. Kings Mountain is one in two cities in NC that operates five utilities. The city is proud of its rate and all that it offers the citizens.
• No proposed adjustments to City General Fund fees
• No proposed Electric rate increase
• No proposed Water rate increase
• No proposed Wastewater rate increase
• No proposed Natural Gas rate increase
• No proposed Sanitation or Stormwater rate increase at this time, but Sellers noted that on June 9th, she received a notice from Cleveland County that tipping fees for landfill disposals will be increasing 10%, but the city had already prepared the budget. The city manager spoke with the County Manager, and he agreed this was late notice but there was a delay in the results of the outside landfill study. He stated that if this is a hardship then we could make it effective mid-year in January. So, we are currently evaluating and will bring a recommendation. It looks like this is an impact of $25,000-$30,000 annually.
Important items discussed during the year included: The city is in the process of completing an UDO, Comprehensive Plan, setting up a Strategic Plan to be led by an outside consultant as requested, 3rd party Comprehensive Plan Pay & Classification Study, Utility infrastructure upgrades, Project South, Grant received in the amount of $39 million for new wastewater project to provide wastewater needs to the southeastern portion of Cleveland County and this is huge, a major economic project.
The city completed the loop system at all three major utilities, $1.8 million EPA Grant received for sewer improvements, new Economic Incentive Policy to retain and attract new businesses, implemented Open Gov – an online permitting system to allow automation of codes and planning development permits, thus allowing developers and citizens expedited review processes.
The city has seen many downtown investments: Trackside Hall, Stonewright Properties, sale of McGinnis building and many others, a lot of subdivisions are being reviewed now, completion of the Kings Mountain Boulevard line extension from Phifer Road to Kings Mountain Intermediate School, completing the transmission easement right-of-way to the new substation, #5, located on Kings Mountain Boulevard, integration of the AMI project with the NorthStar Billing Software, completion of the final Duke purchase power agreement – tis resulted in a refund of almost $700,000, I-85 natural gas connection to York Road station in progress, new second gate station with a 5-year payback, more aggressive ordinances dealing with minimal housing and new non-residential code. Clint Houser, Codes Director, reported that thus far in this current budget year, 7 dilapidated structures have been demolished, 10 minimal housing conditions abated, 66 junk vehicles removed, 225 community appearances violations abated, and they conducted over 1700 building inspections and issued 727 building permits. LED lighting changeover project is in progress, Phase IIA of Streetscape is in progress, improved concerts and growth of Special Events at the park and amphitheater, new subdivisions on the horizon, casino development and progress with all the utility deadlines met for the pre-launch facility, expansion of that facility, improvements being made at Exit 5 by the DOT – Staff has been working with the DOT, Benestar was completed – the infrastructure and now it has been sold to a larger company, several promising Economic Development inquiries with about five spec buildings. The city is very fortunate that they have not had to partner to bring these spec buildings in the county, they have been coming to the city, including one 300,000 square foot building, 1.2 million square foot building, which is the largest in the Southeast in progress, street paving project is almost complete – and the city is getting ready for the next phase.
City Manager Marilyn Sellers said she “could go on and on but we are a really blessed city.” She said that she is proud to be city manager. She thanked the management team and the staff who have worked diligently to produce budget requests that are responsible, and she is proud. She also said city employees have a lot of passion and pride for the community. She also said, “Thanks also to Nick Hendricks, Assistant City Manager, for his expertise in utilities and the projects. Thanks to Chris Costner, Finance Director, for his financial expertise and for the great audits we have received. We have so much to be proud of.” She also thanked City Council for their leadership.
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