WEST POINT — The Town of West Point is proposing a $21.5 million budget with no real estate tax increases for residents and funding boosts to schools and the volunteer fire service.
Town Manager John Edwards presented his draft budget for fiscal year 2025 to the West Point Town Council on March 26. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 23.
The draft budget includes town operations of just over $6.3 million, $4.7 million for schools, just under $600,000 in capital improvements, and $254,000 from remaining American Rescue Act funds. The water utility budget is $1.7 million.
“As part of the budget proposal, I am not proposing any tax increases which is the same as the previous year,” Edwards told the town council. “You have not increased taxes since 2012; on the contrary you have reduced the tax rate.”
The town council cut the real estate tax rate to 67 cents in 2020. It was reduced to 53 cents per $100 in value after a recent reassessment.
Edwards said the budget includes a $328,000 increase in funding for the schools and a cost-of-living adjustment pay increase for employees.
Real estate taxes are expected to generate just over $2.5 million in revenue while personal property taxes will provide just over $1 million.
The machinery and tools tax pumps $3.6 million into town coffers, primarily from the WestRock paper mill.
“There are some increases in local sales and use tax. It’s not due to a change in rate,” Edwards told the town council. “That’s due to inflation and the cost of goods. You will also see there’s some increase anticipated in meals tax which is also due to the cost of goods.”
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is fully funded by the general fund. The new library project pushed up the CIP in FY24. “You won’t have those funds next year because that project will be done,” Edwards said.
The budget contains an additional $75,000 for volunteer fire department operations and $15,000 for EMS capital projects. The police department budget would increase by just over $50,000.
The CIP includes $105,00 for school capital projects, $100,000 for bike trail maintenance, $55,000 for work on the River Walk boardwalk and overlooks, and $60,000 for town hall and police department HVAC improvements.
David Macaulay, davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
