Flat tax rate, higher fees proposed in Burke County budget

Burke County’s proposed 2026-27 budget would leave the county property tax rate unchanged, but many residents would pay more for water, sewer, and trash services as county officials try to keep those systems self-sustaining and fund long-term infrastructure needs.

County Manager Brian Epley spent more than an hour presenting the $120.7 million budget at the four-hour-long Burke County commissioners meeting Monday, where he recommended a flat property tax rate of 55.5 cents per $100 valuation.

The budget is not yet approved. There will be a public hearing on June 15 at 6 p.m.

The county’s water and sewer services operate as an enterprise fund, meaning they are funded through user fees rather than tax dollars. Trash is also an enterprise fund.

Basic monthly fees for water and sewer services will remain flat at $30, but consumption fees will be higher. Water will go from $6.50 per 1,000 gallons to $7.25.

The municipal sewer consumption rate would rise from $5 per 1,000 gallons to $7.25. For those outside municipalities, the sewer consumption fee would go from $6.50 per 1,000 gallons to $7.25.

For years, the water/sewer and trash funds operated at a loss. Commissioners made it a goal to turn those metrics around.

The trash disposal fund ended the 2023 fiscal year with about $300,000. The following year, the water and sewer fund had about $350,000 and trash had about $380,000. Both have maintained a positive balance since.

Self-sustaining enterprise funds will help alleviate some financial pressure, Epley said.

Revenue generated from the water/sewer user fees will go towards investing in system maintenance and improvements, such as new pumps, valves, and pipes.

The 2026-27 recommended budget shows a projection of $2,585,206 in revenue and $2,142,482 in expenses for the water/sewer fund. Goals over the next year include finding grant funding for the Indian Hills pump station project and implementing new water and municipal sewer meters.

The Indian Hills pump station will be a long-term project to address its lack of capacity. Epley said it is a critical resource for the eastern part of Burke County that feeds a large amount of sewage to Hickory for treatment.

Indian Hills is currently operating at 93% capacity, which hinders growth in eastern Burke County, Epley previously said. For example, the upcoming housing development in Connelly Springs — called Chestnut Springs — had to slow its build-out to avoid overwhelming the sewer system.

That pump station services most of Hildebran, all of Rhodhiss, and parts of Icard and George Hildebran. County data shows that it transfers about 225,000 gallons of wastewater per day to Hickory.

Trash is expected to generate $7,588,576 in revenue with expenses totaling $7,086,061.

Revenue will fund improvements at the landfill and a long-term project to scope out remaining acreage and determine if and where the county can build a municipal trash (MSW) landfill for household trash.

Burke currently operates a construction and demolition (C&D) landfill, which only takes certain materials. Household trash cannot be tossed in a C&D landfill.

Household trash creates a liquid contaminant called leachate. MSW landfills must be lined and have a built-in drainage system to capture leachate.

Household trash is transported from Burke County’s transfer station to Caldwell County’s MSW landfill, which has less than a decade left in its lifespan.