Carthage FY 2025-26 Budget Proposal Now Available for Review

Published on May 19, 2025

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CARTHAGE, NC - The Town of Carthage has released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which maintains the current property tax rate of $0.505 per $100 of assessed value and continues to fund core public services without reductions. The proposed budget will be formally presented to the Board of Commissioners at an upcoming meeting and is now available for public review.

The proposed General Fund budget totals $5.08 million and includes a one-time transfer from fund balance to close a projected gap between revenues and expenditures. This approach allows the Town to maintain its current level of service while avoiding a tax increase during a time of economic pressure.

“This budget reflects a careful balance between meeting community expectations and addressing the financial realities we’re facing,” said Town Manager Emily D. Yopp. “We’ve worked hard to preserve services, support employees, and plan responsibly for the future.”

Highlights of the Proposed FY 25–26 Budget:
  • No change to the current property tax rate of $0.505
  • A 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Town employees
  • Transition to a 401(k) match program that helps manage personnel costs
  • Maintains current staffing levels with minor adjustments for temporary coverage and part-time support
  • No proposed increases to water or sewer rates (though a rate study is planned)
  • Over $20 million in grant-funded projects underway or planned

To help offset the cost of processing development applications, the proposal includes a new set of Planning and Zoning fees, such as site plan review and plat approval charges. These fees are designed to ensure that growth-related expenses are more equitably shared with the private sector. Certain capital improvements, including the relocation of park bathrooms and generator replacement at the Police Department, have been deferred due to rising operational costs—particularly utility and retirement system contributions.

The proposed budget also outlines a plan for the Town to begin a comprehensive financial analysis in the coming fiscal year. This initiative will help evaluate long-term service costs and revenue strategies to support continued growth and sustainability.

The full budget proposal and manager’s message are available for review on the Budget page. There is a public hearing scheduled for June 16th beginning at 6:30 p.m. and members of the public are encouraged to provide input before final adoption. Those who cannot attend the hearing may submit their comments via our online survey form here.

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