Danbury budget approved with no tax rate increase

DANBURY — On June 26, the Danbury Town Council unanimously approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that maintains the town's property tax rate and does not draw from its fund balance.

The total 2024-2025 budget of $77,500 reflects an increase of only $120 from the 2023-2024 fiscal year's approved budget of $77,380.

The tax rate was set at 27 cents per $100 of valuation.

Minor adjustments were made to the proposed budget that resulted in a net increase of $520. Changes included reducing the amount budgeted for the annual audit, as Town Administrator Mike Barsness received word that the firm contracted to perform the annual audit would not be increasing their rates as originally anticipated.

No one spoke at a May 22 public hearing held on the proposed budget.

The approved budget will be available to the public at town hall and on the town's website TownOfDanbury.org under "Documents."

The Town Council also unanimously approved the final amended budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year at the June 26 meeting.

That final budget totaled $81,704 after two amendments. Barsness said that approximately $7,500 will be returned to the town's fund balance. The town administrator noted during the meeting that he expects that number to increase after the audit is completed.

EV charging station under consideration

The Council expressed interest at the June 26 meeting in joining a grant opportunity to install two electronic vehicle stations in town.

Carter Spradling, the town's representative from the Rural Planning Organization (an arm of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council) reached out regarding the opportunity.

Barsness said the installation cost would be about $15,000 and would require a match of about $3,000.

All four council members responded positively to the idea. Using town hall parking spots as a location for the charging stations was considered.

Roundabout funding unlikely

Council Member Steve Shelton shared information from Technical Coordinating Committee / Transportation Advisory Committee meetings regarding roundabout funding. The intersection improvement was identified as the top priority within the district, Shelton said.

"However, the way it's scoring, neither it or anything in our district will likely make the cut at the district level," he said. "It's not entirely impossible; They haven't said we're not going to get funding, they're just saying it's not a good likelihood."

Street paving complete

The grant-funded street paving projects have been completed, with council members reporting positive feedback from residents.

One of the streets with new pavement, Crestview Road, was damaged during recent repairs to water main breaks. At the county's cost, Stokes County public works department will hire NC DOT to repair the street with straight edges, Barsness said.

Some money remaining in the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund grant may be used for striping the roads if the state extends ability to access those funds beyond the June 30 deadline.

There also may be remaining funds available from the American Rescue Plan grants after the final billing. That grant does not end until later this year.

Among other business of the Town Council:

Jake Elsdon was sworn in to a three year term as an ETJ member of the town's planning board.Minutes from the May 22 meeting and accounts payable for May 23 to June 26 were approved.The council approved a revised town clerk job description.The council approved the audit contract for the 2024 fiscal year in the amount of $7,905.