On June 14, 2022, the Indian Trail Town Council voted to approve the fiscal year 2022-2023 (FY22-23) operating budget that begins on July 1. Planning for the budget began back in December and continued through the spring with a series of budget workshops with the staff and the Town Council. The budget was formally presented on May 10 with a Public Hearing held on May 24.
The total operating budget is $19,409,619 of which the General Fund totals $16,424,328. This General Fund represents an increase of $1,161,943 over the FY21-22 budget. The Town uses the General Fund to pay for day-to-day expenses and provides the funds needed for public safety, parks and recreation, public works services to our citizens and businesses, etc. The three main sources of revenue for the general fund are property taxes ($9,431,210); sales taxes ($3,100,000); and utility franchise taxes ($1,300,000).
The FY22-23 budget maintains the existing tax rate of $.185 per $100 of assessed valuation, and it does not increase the Town’s stormwater fees or other fees. The Town’s property tax values have risen to $5,847,910,044, which is an increase of 3.47% due to new development and construction in the Town, as well as the property tax revaluation done by Union County last year.
In addition to the operating budget, the Town also receives funds annually from the Powell Bill, which must be spent on streets and sidewalks. Powell Bill funds are part of the gasoline tax and are distributed by the state government to municipalities based on the number of miles of streets maintained by the Town. Currently, Indian Trail maintains over 80 miles of streets. Stormwater fees are based on either residential or commercial properties and must be used on stormwater projects. For FY22-23, the Town expects to receive $2,017,961 in Powell Bill funds and $2,504,895 in stormwater fees.
The FY22-23 operational budget, in addition to the outside funding sources, continues to support the priorities of the Town Council, which include:
- Roads and Infrastructure
- Public Safety
- Planning and Growth Management
- Creating a Downtown
- Building a High-Quality Team
- Partnerships
- Parks and Community Amenities
- Quality Basic Services
- Operational Needs (technology/buildings)
Highlights of the budget include:
- Two deputies (a detective and a patrol deputy) and one civilian (crime scene investigator) will be added to the Union County Sheriff’s Office contract.
- Staff additions:
- An event coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- One position in the Public Works Department.
- One position in the Planning Department.
- Creation of a business development director position.
- Creation of an IT administrator position.
- Additional funding to the Powell Bill and stormwater funds to fund various transportation and stormwater issues.
- Continued funding for the Indian Trail Road Complete Street project.
- Continued funding and working with NCDOT on the Chestnut Parkway.
- Improving Shady Bluff Road to enhance safety and create an additional entrance/exit for Chestnut Square Park.
- Funding to provide enhancements to Chestnut Square Park with priority given to soccer fields and additional parking.
- Funding for an expected increase of $925,000 in solid waste costs.
The Town of Indian Trail remains in excellent financial condition. Last fall, the Town received a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s. The AAA rating is the highest one a municipality can receive. The Town also has an Aa1 bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service. The proposed FY22-23 budget continues the Town’s tradition of conservative budgeting and fiscal restraint.
To view the FY22-23 budget, visit http://indiantrail.org/DocumentCenter/View/3266/2022-2023-Approved-Budget-Book.