The town of Elon’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 year will increase by $2,976,068 to $18,171,385, compared to last year’s budget of $15,195,317. This increase, according to Town Manager Rich Roedner, is due to projects such as new water lines on North Williamson and East Haggard avenues, a plaza on West College and a new human resources position. Residents' water and solid waste bills will increase because of an increase in the contract the Town of Elon has.
Aldermen Quinn Ray said while he understands the necessity of raising the cost for residents, he also realizes that this might be burdensome for some people.
“People are already struggling, and now we're going to hit them with this cost,” Ray said. “I can afford $60 extra a year, that doesn't mean my neighbor can.”
With the budget currently, there won’t be an increase in taxes from the Town of Elon. Aldermen Stephanie Bourland said it is important to move forward with the budget with transparency and explain that the town is covering most of the increase that has to happen with the water and solid waste.
During the May 10 Board of Aldermen regular meeting, Roedner will have a more finalized budget for the board to discuss. At the regular meeting, the board will also vote on six proclamations for the town to recognize May as mental health month and have public service employees’ week, professional municipal clerks’ week, national police week, national public works week and economic development week recognized throughout May.
The Board of Aldermen also held a public hearing to consider changing the name from Board of Aldermen to Town Council. No residents made public comments, and this change will be voted on during the regular meeting. Mayor Emily Sharpe gave context for why the board wants to make this change.
“When we run for the Board of Aldermen, no one knows what Board of Aldermen does or is,” Sharpe said. “Even we always default to town council — it's very antiquated. No one knows what we do, so we thought for real transparency as to what it is that we do that it made the most sense to modernize it and go to town council.”