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On Monday, the Valdese Town Council gave Interim Manager Bo Weichel direction to create a budget for next year with a tax rate no higher than 41.5 cents per $100 of property value with no reduction in essential services or fund reserves.

Councilman Glenn Harvey proposed the town keep the same tax rate, saying the town’s 2023-24 audit showed it added money to its fund balance.

Harvey said that hundreds of people in the town are juggling Social Security, welfare and disability income for food, medicine, utilities and property taxes.

No decision has been made on whether the town will give employees a cost of living pay increase with the possibility of rising costs, Harvey said. He said he challenges staff to find a way to live within their means.

He said the town is in strong financial state and doesn't need to raise the property tax.

Councilwoman Rexanna Lowman said she is concerned about the town's law enforcement salaries and how the pay compares to other departments in the county. Lowman asked if the town would be able to address the salaries in the upcoming budget.

“I do think that that is a concern, that when we're talking about (the) law enforcement facility and the public safety facility, we also have to talk about their salaries,� Lowman said.

Weichel said examining law enforcement pay would be done through a salary study. He said all town departments need a salary evaluation, so a study would include all town employees. A salary study is something the council could include in the upcoming budget, Weichel said. It would take about six months to complete.

Weichel said he will present a preliminary 2025-26 budget to the board on April 15 and 16, when he will ask for council direction. After making changes suggested by the council, the council will hold a second budget meeting on May 12, where the budget will be fine tuned. Then on May 28, Weichel will present a proposed budget, with a public hearing and board adoption on June 23.

Mayoral term shortened?

Also during the meeting, Harvey proposed amending the town's charter to make the mayoral term two years instead of the current four-year terms. Council members’ terms also are four-year terms.

Harvey said he wanted to hear from residents to see if residents think it is a good idea or not. If agreed upon, the change would need to be complete before election filing for mayor opens in July.

With the council having staggered terms, making the mayor’s term two years means the mayor would be campaigning for the office with half of the council.

Lowman argued that having a four-year term for mayor creates stability and continuity for the town and long-term planning and strategies for projects. It also allows a mayor to build strong relationships with area elected officials, community leaders and residents, and creates less political volatility, she said.