The $100.7 million proposed budget for the Town of Chapel Hill is calling for an 11 percent increase in sales tax revenue, but the North Carolina General Assembly may have something to say about that.

The Town Council got their first look at the proposal from Town Manager Roger Stancil on Monday night.

“The recommended [2015-2016] budget does not include a tax increase,” Stancil says. “There is revenue growth from other sources, such as sales tax and permit fees.”

Stancil says following several lean years after the recession, sales tax revenue has been riding an upward trend. But proposed legislation among state lawmakers regarding the redistribution of sales taxes may have a negative impact on Chapel Hill.

Cost of employee medical insurance is down 8.5 percent in the proposed budget. That seemed to make Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt very happy.

“8.5 percent decrease in health insurance cost?!” he asked. “I know I have to hear more about that because it’s almost unbelievable on its face.

“When has any American heard about that without some kind of change?”

Stancil says the lowering of cost does not include a reduction in benefits. He attributes the savings to wellness programs for town staff including increased number of those who have quit smoking.

Other items in the proposed budget include a four percent raise for town employees to be broken up with two percent in July and another two percent in January.

The Parking Fund also has a balanced projection for the first time in six years.

A $40 million bond that will not require a tax increase is also scheduled to be on the November ballot. That money would go toward funding capital improvement projects.

You can view the recommended budget here.

A public hearing will be held on May 18, before Budget Work Sessions are held June 1 and 3. The hopeful date to adopt a budget in June 8.

Related Stories
‹
Morris Grove Elementary School Dismissing Students Early Wednesday Due to Power Outage
Morris Grove Elementary School in Chapel Hill is dismissing students at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after a fallen tree knocked out power to the building. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools first notified the community about the power, internet and phone outage at 9:14 a.m. Wednesday morning, identifying the cause as a fallen tree in the area of […]
CHCCS High Schools Win State Championships in Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer
Two local high schools each took home state championships last weekend. Chapel Hill High School took home the North Carolina 7A championship in women’s lacrosse, while Carrboro High won the 4A championship in women’s soccer. View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram Chapel Hill High won the women’s lacrosse title, its first […]
Chapel Hill Announces Adjusted Hours for Indoor Recreational Facilities and Centers
A difficult financial landscape is causing both residents and our local governments to tighten their budgets. In Chapel Hill, the town’s Parks and Recreation Department is adjusting its facilities hours – which helps keep costs more efficient, but leaders say also addresses bigger goals of the parks crew. The updates, as announced on Monday, shift […]
Géos Tavern & Oyster Bar Set To Open In Chapel Hill June 8
Géos Tavern & Oyster Bar is set to open Monday, June 8. The restaurant will feature seafood inspired by the flavors of North Carolina cooking.
The Morning News: Local Town Budgets, Diamond Heels Advance
Andrew Stuckey fills in for Aaron Keck with the morning news. In todays news: Hillsborough and Carrboro struggle with budgets that don't include tax increases. Also: a look ahead at the month of June, a check of the local government meeting schedule, and the Chapel Hill Community Center reopens. In sports, the Diamond Heels advance to the baseball super regional, and more.
Chapel Hill: Budget Updates, LUMO, Upcoming Events
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 28, discussing town news and events. She gave updates on the town budget, including the timeline for the budget's likely passage. She also talked about the town's long on going rewrite of the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO), which will become a council focus going into the summer. She also previewed some upcoming events, the reopening of a town swimming facility, and more.
NCDOT to Begin Resurfacing Highway 86 June 1; Overnight Delays Expected
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin resurfacing a part of North Carolina Highway 86 in Chapel Hill Monday, June 1. The work will take place between the intersections with Estes Drive and Franklin Street, through the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/South Columbia Street corridor. In a release, the Town of Chapel […]
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local Services
The observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
Climate Thursday: Town of Chapel Hill's Mike Miller, John Richardson, and Kanen Lawson
Town of Chapel Hill Fire Inspector Mike Miller, Community Sustainability Manager John Richardson, and Community Safety Public Information Officer Kanen Lawson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 21. They discussed Heat Awareness Week, highlighting actions that individuals can take to prepare for the heat, as well as systems the town government has in place to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat, and more.
Chapel Hill: Budget Updates, Climate Action Plan, 150 Jobs Downtown
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 21, discussing town news and events. She gave an update on the town budget after a public hearing earlier in the week. She also discussed updates to the town's climate action plan, and incentives package for Blue Sky Robotics to bring 150 jobs to their headquarters downtown. She also talked about the upcoming Memorial Day holiday and more.
›