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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

LEWISVILLE — When Stacy Tolbert presented her proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget message in last month’s Lewisville Town Council meeting, it showed a 2-cent decrease in property tax from 21.7 cents per $100 of valuation to 19.7 cents per $100 of valuation.

However, after three budget meetings in April, the town manager announced in last Thursday night’s meeting that the decrease would go down to an even 18 cents, which would almost close the gap from last year’s 4-cent increase from 17.7 cents to 21.7 cents per $100 of valuation.

Tolbert said after the council meeting that the original goal for the staff was to get the tax rate down 2 cents but that the council wanted more. 

“The budget with a 19.7-cent tax rate had nothing being funded out of fund balance appropriations,” she said. “The town’s practice is to only fund items out of fund balance that are one time expenditures, not operations. The council had the wish to lower the tax rate further so staff went back to work.

“We found items in the budget that were appropriate to be paid for out of fund balance. With these items being removed from expenditures, we were able to get the tax rate down 3.7 cents total for a final rate of 18 cents.”

Brady Allen of Lewisville said he wanted to thank the council and staff for all the work they put into the budget with a positive result.

“I attended all of the budget workshops, and the council was very collaborative, and even though there may have been disagreements, they all came together for a common purpose for funding the operating expenses for the town,” he said. “And I particularly appreciate how the council worked together to bring down the tax rate from what was originally proposed by the town manager to the 18 cents per $100 valuation. I feel that it considers those in our community who have a harder time paying their annual tax.”

The final budget message will be presented at the regular monthly meeting on June 12 at 6 p.m. at town hall, and the final decision will also be made that same evening.

Along with adjusting the property tax, the council also took a step to fund the town’s capital reserves during the budget meetings.

Ivan Huffman, the youngest council member by far, said he really did appreciate the approach during this year’s budget season to looking ahead.

“I know we are funding a year at a time, but this municipality has to think longer than just one year at a time,” he said. “It was great to see us support a growing town with some much needed resources.”

Mayor Mike Horn followed up on Huffman’s comment, saying: “We have not funded our capital reserves, which is an incredibly important component of our budget because that is our funding looking forward. And in this year’s budget, we have reestablished the funding of those reserves.

“One of the advantages is the building (town hall) that you’re sitting in. It’s Mary Alice Warren Community Center, it’s Jack Warren Park, and all of those we were able to fund a good portion of them in the reserves so when it came to build them, we had the money to do that.”

In new business from last Thursday night’s meeting, the council approved three separate ordinances to close out existing projects’ funds and transfer the remaining balance to the roundabout at Lewisville-Vienna Road and Robinhood Road Capital Projects Funds:

• Closing the Gateway Project Capital Projects Fund and transferring $1,021,302.
• Closing the Lewisville-Vienna Multipurpose Path Capital Projects Fund and transferring $382,969.
• Closing the Shallowford Road CMAQ Sidewalk Capital Projects Fund and transferring $281,484.

In other highlights from last Thursday night’s meeting, the council:

• Recognized Veronica Leisure, the town’s communications specialist, on receiving an Excellence in Communications award from the N.C. City and County Communicators.
• Was introduced to the town’s new clerk, Angie Lord, who will be replacing Dora Moore, who is retiring June 1. 
• Declared the month of May as Historic Preservation Month.
• The online resident survey deadline is June 30. Horn said it was important for all residents to take just a few minutes of their time to provide important feedback to town officials. Visit lewisvillenc.net/survey to take the survey.

In upcoming events:

• The Mary Alice Warren Community Center mural unveiling reception, along with an artist meet and greet, will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. Five submissions were received and the submission by Missy Pardue from Yadkinville was selected.
• The town’s first Starlight Movie Night, “Twisters,” will also be Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Shallowford Square.
• The 10th annual Military Appreciation Concert will be held on Memorial Day, May 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the Embers, featuring Craig Woodward. A special Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the American Legion Post 522.
• Other events include a blood drive on Wednesday, June 4, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a CPR class on Friday, June 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., both at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center.