What will spending plans for Gaston County's smaller cities cost taxpayers?
Gaston County's smaller cities and towns have passed new spending plans for the fiscal year that begins Thursday, July 1. The Gazette rounded up highlights from the upcoming budgets, with an emphasis on how much these plans will cost taxpayers or add to services municipal governments offer. Belmont  Property tax rate will remain at 51.5 cents per $100 worth of property. General fund budget increases 0.79%, from $16,236,052, to $16,363,646. Each full-time city employee will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and are eligible for up to a 3% merit increase based on their annual evaluation. five new positions, in planning and zoning, Fire Department and Community Development. There will be no utility tax rate increases  "The city of Belmonts capital projects come from the capital improvements plan that the City Council, staff, public, and advisory boards have created. These capital investments identified for the 2021-2022 budget year include, but are not limited to:  Construction of the Belmont Recreation Center  Improvements to Davis Park, Rocky Branch, and Stowe Park  Security cameras in parks and public areas  Splash Pad at Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park  Pedestrian improvements at the intersection on Park Street and East Catawba Street  Street paving and sidewalk improvements,  North Belmont Public Safety Station, and  Replacement vehicles and equipment that our staff needs to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. Bessemer City  Property tax rate will remain at 45 cents per $100 worth of property. General fund budget increases 13.6%, from $4.74 million to $5.4 million. Employees will receive 1.5% salary increases; starting pay for police officers increased from $42,427 to $45,000 per year. No new positions are being offered in the city. The city has had a 5% increase in utility rates taxes. "A large paving project will take place from late summer to early fall to repair several streets." Cherryville  Property tax rate remains at 52 cents per $100 worth of property. General fund budget increases 15%, from $4.7 million to $5.39 million. Employees will receive a 1.5% pay increase. Two new workers, one Main Street program and one sanitation. "City starting to pay back bonds approved by voters last year for downtown improvement and water and sewer projects." Cramerton  The city property tax rate will remain at 47 cents per $100 worth of property. General fund budget increases 40%, from $2.1 million to $7.6 million. Budget will include funding for up to 2.5% merit-based performance pay increases for full-time employees across the organization. One new police patrol officer. Water and sewer utilities are provided by Two Rivers Utilities, which will increase rates 5%  "The city will continue to upgrade its existing road infrastructure with a $1,550,000 road maintenance project for 2021." Dallas  The city property tax rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be 42 cents per $100 worth of property, up 2 cents from the previous year. The total general fund budget increases to $4,484,154. Police Department competitive wages will increase. Starting salary base pay will increase to $41,000 (from $38,000) on July 1, and on Jan. 1., the starting salary will increase to $42,000. Three new workers: one in public works and one police officer. A planner to be filled mid-year. "Capital projects were put on hold this past year due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. These projects have been brought back in this new budget to continue improvements in infrastructure and service delivery." High Shoals  The city property tax rate will remain at 38 cents per $100 worth of property. General Fund Budget increases 6% from $360,325 to $383,650. Hourly wages increased based on experience from $12/hour to $15.00/hour. One new position available in maintenance. Water / Sewer Fund decreased from $229,429 to $187,000.00. The increase of 18% tax rate was due to an increase from Two Rivers Utility. Lowell  The city property tax rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be 49 cents per $100 worth of property, up 6 cents from the previous year. General Fund Budget increases 7.3% from $189,479 to $2.7 million. The city will see an increase of 1.2% in retirement expenses for the non-police salaries and 1.14% for police salaries. This increase will cost the city an additional $15,303 this fiscal year. Two new police officers. New stormwater charges, residential, $6.75/month and non-residential, $6.75/2,827 square feet of impervious surface. "Public safety makes up almost half of the Lowell fiscal year budget at 49% (Police 38% and Lowell Volunteer Fire Department 11%). The addition of two new police officer positions is the most notable characteristic of the budget. The Lowell Police Department has not added a position since 2008. Currently, there are nine officers and this addition will bring them to 11. "This will, at minimum, add a second officer (and sometimes a third officer) at any given shift and greatly increase the safety of our current officers. This budget proposes three police cruisers, which will cost $120,000. A cruiser for each new position and one cruiser to replace the 2012 model. "This proposed budget also includes the addition of body cameras that will offer more transparency, safety, and culpability. This will come at a cost of $30,645. This should be seen as a plan to achieve a standard per capita amount of officers for the safety of all. This addition of two police officers should be seen as a measure in achieving that goal. The Lowell VFD has requested additional funding for the replacement of all the garage bay doors that are approximately 30 years old. Maintenance costs are rising each year and the doors are increasingly unreliable. The door replacement cost is $21,288.52. This budget also includes the replacement of 5 sets of personnel protective equipment at a cost of $17,400." McAdenville  The city property tax rate will remain at 33 cents per $100 worth of property. General Fund Budget increases 12.8% to $1.5 million, up about $114,000. Up to 5% merit increase for full-time employees. No increase for elected officials. Water & sewer tax rates will increase to 3.5% to cover rising costs and meet the demands of the Capital Improvement Plan. Planned general fund expenditures for design and improvements to park & recreation facilities for the McAdenville Greenway and Riverlink Extension Project. "There will be no change in services for town residents. The curbside recycling program will continue." Mount Holly  The city property tax rate will remain at 48.5 cents per $100 worth of property. The General Fund proposed for the 2022 fiscal year is $14,626,149. Employee raises vary due to an approved salary study/pay plan. Employees not impacted by the salary study will receive a 2.6% cost-of-living adjustment. There is an increase in water/sewer tax rates, this year being year three in a five-year plan. A recycling fee increase of 18 cents will be implemented. Ranlo  The city property tax rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be 50 cents per $100 worth of property, up 10 cents from the previous year. The general fund budget will increase 6.11% from $2 million to $ 2.2 million. Garbage tax increased from $9 monthly to $12. Water tax will increase by approximately 11% and sewer by approximately 9%. "The recommended budget seeks to restore the towns ability to exercise independence and regain our autonomy to more freely invest, borrow, and allocate funding. "The North Carolina State Treasurers Office has issued three written exceptions to the town identifying findings of irregularity, specifying areas of direct concern relating to over-spending, and outlining weaknesses within the towns water and sewer fund. "The state and Local Government Finance Division and the Local Government Commission have flagged the town and included Ranlo on its Unit Assistance List. "The consequence of this inclusion is that the town must submit the fiscal year 2022 draft budget to the Department of the State Treasurer for approval and review prior to the adoption of the budget ordinance. "Being on the Unit Assistance List also limits the ability of the town to borrow money, to invest in infrastructure, and can potentially impact the towns municipal bond rating in a negative way. "The rate adjustments and expenditures in the recommended budget are notable steps forward in restoring our ability to self-govern without being under strict guidance and direction from the state of North Carolina." Stanley  The city property tax rate will remain at 54 cents per $100 worth of property. The general fund budget will increase to 9.8% from $3.7 million, an increase of $332,623. 2.5% cost-of-living pay hikes. Two new police officers, and one new planning director. There will be no utility tax rate increases. Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_  Note: The Gastonia budget and Gaston County budget has already been reported on. Neither town had an increase in the tax rate.