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By Jesse Deal
Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — On Monday night, City Manager Todd Clark presented a budget proposal for 2025-26 to the Albemarle City Council, the first in a series of steps to final approval, including a series of budget workshops next week.

“I want to say thank you to all of the leadership team, particularly [Finance Director] Jacob Weavil, for helping me work through this budget as it’s my first,” Clark said. “A lot of time, effort and energy went into doing this. I do want to recognize the staff for your time and effort … to present a responsible budget to the City Council.”

The proposed budget tallies to roughly $94.6 million, up $11.4 million or 13% from last year. It includes spending for city operations from July 2025 to June 2026, as well as capital spending previously outlined in the city’s capital improvement plan, and bumps to employee compensation and benefit plan funding.

The general fund would be just under $25 million, up nearly $4 million or some 20% from the original budget of $21 million.

There is no property tax increase in the proposal. Albemarle’s current rate would remain at 61 cents per $100 of value, generating nearly $2.7 million of revenue over the revenue neutral rate of 50 cents per $100.

“The general fund is balanced with a tax levy of 61 cents” plus an appropriation of roughly $500,000 of unrestricted fund balance, Clark added. The fund balance transfer “is for capital purchases, as well as a small shortfall which the 61 cent property valuation will not cover.”

General fund expenditures include employee health insurance cost increases, 10 new firefighters funded through a FEMA grant, and three new patrol vehicles for the police department.

The general fund also includes money for additional tax collection fees, IT spending to secure data and operational compliance, a new fire department records system and roof replacement for Station One, an OpenGov permitting software system for planning and development services and street resurfacing projects totaling $1.1 million.

“Good job considering what we had to work with,” said Councilmember Benton Dry. “I’m really quite amazed at what we’ve been able to get in here, and thank you for everybody’s time and effort putting this together.”

The Albemarle City Council is set to meet again on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.