Last Updated on June 22, 2026 1:25 pm
The Boone Town Council is scheduled to adopt a $48 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27 at its June 24 meeting, a spending plan that includes a four-cent increase in the property tax rate and funding for a new Public Works facility that town leaders have called long overdue.
The proposed budget totals $48,089,937 across all funds, with the General Fund accounting for $29,811,432 of that figure. The tax rate is set at $0.44 per $100 of assessed valuation — up from the prior rate — based on a total property valuation of approximately $2.47 billion following the county's general reappraisal of real property.
The budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all Town employees, as well as funding for several new staff positions. Current year property taxes are projected at $10.76 million in the General Fund.
Interim Town Manager Dale Presnell described the budget process as unusually collaborative. The initial proposal had called for a 5.5-cent tax increase, but through line-by-line reviews with the Town Council, the increase was trimmed to four cents. Reserve funds were used to help bridge the gap.
Mayor Dalton George said the budget prioritizes long-overdue infrastructure. In addition to the Public Works facility, the budget includes funding toward Fire Station #4 and establishes a capital improvement funding source for Fire Station #1 and the Police Department building to prevent deferred maintenance from accumulating further.
The AppalCart contribution and the Sustainability budget line both increased under the new budget. Parking infrastructure upgrades are also funded, including meter replacements — approximately 80 meters are currently inoperable — and a parking citation fee set at $40 per violation.
The Water and Sewer Fund totals $13,129,961. Water sales are projected at $5.1 million and sewer charges at $5 million. Updated water and sewer rates take effect July 1, 2026.
The Downtown Municipal Service District carries a separate tax rate of $0.1575 per $100 of assessed value, based on a tax base of approximately $192.6 million.
The budget also includes the Rural Fire Service District at $2,144,133, a Health Insurance Fund at $2,600,461, and a Municipal Service District at $371,350.
The Boone Town Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Budget documents are available through the town's Granicus meeting portal.
