(6/15) The draft of the FY-25 budget was approved at June’s Council meeting with a vote of four to one. Commissioner Valerie Turnquist voted against the draft with concerns regarding financial transparency and the impact of the 2nd of five planned 36% increases in water rates. "My reservations in approving the FY-25 budget have not been fully addressed," she said. "I feel we haven't gone far enough in identifying some items, financial policies, details of Capital projects and projected costs for the remainder of FY-24."

Turnquist has called for transparency since the beginning of her term as Commissioner. When providing her first report on the Town’s finances as new treasurer she noted a difference of $3.6 million dollars between the sewer fund and the sewer enterprise fund. The discovery was clarified, however Turnquist's good eye showed the Council it needed a less complicated way to organize financial information.

Mayor Frank Davis shared similar goals as Turnquist when he was campaigning; a need for transparency and a desire to remove the high-water rate increases. "We need to be more transparent on letting the residents know how much money the town has and what it is spending it on," he said when he was sworn in. He also wanted to figure out how to do away with the last two rate increases.

In another move at transparency, Davis told the Councile that he and Turnquist along with another staff member met to discuss the FY-25 budget's outline and in doing so discovered missing items in the Towns Charter and ordinance. He assured the Council the missing items would be taken care of.

The multiple water rate increases were another line-item concern that added to Turnquist’s objection to the FY-25 budget. The decision was made in May of 2023 for a series of 36% water rate increases to ‘rebuild’ the Water Fund and it was not well received by residents. The depletion of the Water Fund was brought about by a host of issues, including the decision of the prior administration to shift the charging of office staff salaries and benefits from the Town’s General Fund to the Water Fund. It was also discovered that two other office staff members’ benefits were being charged to the Sewer Fund which could cause the sewer fund to deplete similarly to the water fund.

Turnquist has been avidly against these increases since her campaign days. She said, "I understand the need to increase the rates however increases of such a magnitude are not sustainable. Families are struggling to meet basic necessities." She pointed out, "that such a high increase would have a negative impact on low to middle income-based families and seniors on fixed incomes." For these reasons she voted against approving the FY-25 budget.

In an effort to jump-start the replenishment of the Water Fund the Town transferred $300,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds into the Water Fund in December. Davis told the Council, at an earlier meeting, that the Water Fund increased by almost $60,000 in the first quarter of FY-24 alone as a result of the first 36% rate increase, which went into effect in July.

Commissioner Amy Pollitt mentioned having a special workshop in September to continue the water rate increase discussion. This was a suggestion from a previous meeting that was well received by the Council. She explained that they would have a year’s worth of data since the 1st increase to review and decide the best step forward for the Town.

Davis also assured the Council that if they are dissatisfied with the budget moving forward, they have the option to amend it. This would allow any mistakes that may be found to be rectified.