Black Mountain Town Council considers $22 million budget for 2024-25
Public hearing set for June 6 special call meeting
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 24, 2024
The Black Mountain Town Council will hold a public hearing, June 6, while considering the town’s 2024-25 budget. The recommended document was presented by the town manager in a May 22 meeting. Photo by Fred McCormick
A proposed 2024-25 fiscal year budget of $22 million, presented May 22 to the Black Mountain Town Council, will be the subject of a public hearing set for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 6.
The document, which represents a 14% increase over the current adopted budget and a 6% rise over the amended version, includes six new positions, seven major capital expenditures and an increase in monthly water and sanitation rates for residents.
The budgeting process commenced at the beginning of the year, as town officials gathered for a February retreat. Administrators reviewed departmental budget requests in March and April before elected leaders met with department heads in a series of workshops.
The document presented by Town Manager Josh Harrold attributed the anticipated increase to additional personnel, higher operating expenses and capital projects across multiple departments. Federal revisions to the Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule, which begin in October, require the town to invest in its water infrastructure, according to the budget message.
Harrold, citing a proposed 2.55 cent property tax increase proposed by Buncombe County, did not recommend an ad valorem increase for the town. Black Mountain raised its rate from 30.6 cents per $100 of valuation to 32.1 cents in the current fiscal year. Ad valorem taxes account for 43% of the town’s general fund revenue.
Staff did recommend raising waste reduction fees from $2 to $5 per month and a 13% increase for in-town water customers, with a 15% hike for out-of-town clients.
“Water rates are going up a pretty good amount,” Harrold told the town council. “The main reason for that being that we buy quite a bit of water from the City of Asheville, and they went up on our rates 31%. They will do that again next year, and the following year.”
If the budget passes, Black Mountain water customers who use an average of 5,000 gallons per month would see monthly rates increase by approximately $5.50, according to the town manager. The town will appropriate approximately $500,000 from the Water Fund Balance to balance the proposed water budget.
The proposal calls for an appropriation of $1.6 million from the the town’s unassigned fund balance, up approximately $300,000 from the current fiscal year. The town would retain approximately $5 million, of the recommended general fund budget, in unappropriated fund balance. The Local Government Commission recommends municipalities maintain at least 8% in reserves, while the town’s would maintain at 54%..
Harrold’s recommended budget requests a 4% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for town employees, while adding six new positions in seven departments for approximately $490,000. Personnel expenses associated with the town’s 100 full-time employees, 13 volunteer firefighters and six elected officials account for approximately 48.7% of the annual budget.
Capital outlay expenditures contained in the proposal recommend purchasing a new mini pumper apparatus for the Black Mountain Fire Department, which is anticipated to operate on a $3.6 million budget in the upcoming fiscal year. The equipment allows the department to navigate smaller roads within the fire district, according to BMFD Chief John Coffey.
“Not only would it help us with those capabilities, but we also plan to make it an all-hazard truck, meaning it could respond to multiple types of emergencies,” he said. “We’re trying to consolidate the fleet by making all-purpose hazard vehicles.”
Three new vehicles would be added to the Black Mountain Police Department fleet if the budget is approved, while the plan also recommends a dump truck and bucket truck to replace aging public works equipment. The town plans to invest approximately $2.2 million into capital outlay in the proposed document.
Line items of the balanced revenues and expenditures in the proposed town budget are listed as:
General - $13 million
Fire - $3.6 million
Water - $3.2 million
Planning - $979,000
Capital Reserve - $400,000
Stormwater - $387,000
Powell Bill - $283,500
BMPD Outreach - $32,000
BMPD Forfeiture - $15,000
Technology - $13,000
Penalty Fines - $2,500
The town council will hold a special call meeting and public hearing in the first week of June, before considering the adoption of the financial plan. The full recommended 2024-25 Town of Black Mountain budget can be viewed here.