Minutes oft the Meeting of The Liberty Town Council Budget Retreat Reitzel Center Held on April 22, 20241 1PM  2G  Present  Mayor: Council:  The Honorable Filmore York and Greg Carpenter Scott Kidd Jessica Brown Bill Flowe  Larry Coble, Terry Caviness, Don Herndon, Tyson Nixon  Town Manager: Town Clerk: Town Attorney: Staff:  Police Chief; David Semrad, Library Director; Brenda Heindl, Safety Director; Bret Pedigo, Assistant Town Manager; Janie Phelps, Public Works Director; Joseph  Walsh  Call to Order and Welcome - Mayor  Mayor York called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM and welcomed everyone. He said we need to think about the future and keep an open mind. Everyone is looking at us right  now and we: need to think andi noti make hasty decisions. Agenda Review/Opening Remarks - Scott Kidd  The Town Manager Scott Kidd welcomed everyone. We need tol look at the next five to ten years. Hel has heard our population could double here and go up to 100,000 in the  region. There are growing pains. Budget Discussion  We dropped the tax rate to $.55 last year due to tax evaluations. What are our goals for the 24/25 budget? The fund balance is currently below 13%. Give employees a 2-3% raise while reducing no more than 2% oft thel budget? He gave al handout of salaries for Why increase revenue? LGERS (retirement), medical, and dental are increasing as well as general inflation. Mayor York asked how we can fund this? Council Member Nixon asked how we can fund our houses? It was suggested to raise the trash can rate from 17.00 to 23.00 per month. Every penny oft tax raise gives us $28,838.00. Payroll is roughly 2,571.400 per year. We are: not changing water rates this year. Council Member Herndon asked what ifv wel had stayed at $.64 last year? The Town Manager said we would have almost $800,000 if wel had: not decreased taxes. Council Member Coble said we. have to start thinking about purchasing a fire truck which is a big expense. He said there is no way to cut the budget out of this situation. Council Member Caviness  different positions from the NCLM.    suggested raising the trash can charge to $25.00 per month. The Town Manager said he needs to dol his Budget Presentation next month and needs guidance on which way to go. Ifwe don'tincrease the fund balance the LGC will make us. Council Member Coble said the Police and Fire Departments are. key to explaining the tax increase. Mayor York said leafand limb pickup has improved and Council Member Coble said that costs dollars. Joseph Walsh said iti is $400.00 per trip to the dump. Council Member Nixon asked about a sales tax referendum but the Town Manager said only counties can do that. Council Member Herndon said inflation is a national problem. Council Member Larry Coble said they also need to consider the budget requests from the EDC, Chamber, and Senior Center. Bret Pedigo said it would be about $7,000- 7,500 on a fifteen year loan for ai new fire truck. Mayor York said citizens don't like going up and down raise it and keep it. Council Member Carpenter said they need to be transparent with the numbers.  27  Overview of the Day and' Takeaways - Scott] Kidd  The Town Manager thanked everyone and said he appreciates the discussion. These are  just hard decisions to make. Council Comments  Council Member Carpenter said we need to think about how to present and include the need for police and fire personnel. Council Member Coble suggested that at least $.62 and also look at $.64. It was agreed that they will have another meeting on May 13th at  the same time. Mayor Comments future. Adjourn  Mayor York said he appreciates the discussion and it is not going to get any easier in the  Council Member Tyson Nixon made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Council Member Don Herndon seconded the motion which passed unanimously with Council Members: Tyson Nixon, Greg Carpenter, Don Herndon, Terry Caviness, and Larry Coble voting  yes. The meeting was adjourned.  tilmale Mayor Filmore York  fpl  ATTEST: QAp. Bn