Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. North Carolina
  4. Apex
  5. Issues

Budget Tax Rate Increase

At a glance

  • What: the Town's proposed budget and property tax rate increase for the coming fiscal year (budget adoption was due after the June 9, 2026 public hearing).
  • Where it stands: on May 21 Council unanimously (5-0) directed staff to proceed with a base increase of 1.75 cents and to look for 0.18 cent of operational cuts to put back into the Community Investment Fund. Residents pressed for a zero increase at the May 26 town hall and the May 28 public forum.
  • Next: fifth public hearing June 9, 2026, when Council would first consider adoption. These minutes do not show the final adopted rate.

May 21 work session

  • Budget Director Hoffman and Town Manager Vosburg presented tax rate scenarios. Council agreed by consensus that the 3-cent scenario first proposed by the Town Manager and the zero-cent scenario were not of interest; discussion centered on the 2-cent and 1.75-cent scenarios, plus a 1.93 proposal that would fund the Community Investment Fund more than 1.75 does.
  • Fund balance: Zegerman asked about the 25% policy; Town Manager Vosburg said it stands at 20% plus about $1.4 million and would not drop below 20% for the year. About $1 million is expected to be spent back in. Gray floated eventually moving the 25% target to 20%; Mayor Pro Tem Mahaffey said it likely still needs to be near 20% because the Community Investment Fund is separate.
  • Positions: about 30 vacancies exist, some in enterprise funds. Delayed-start positions would be recruited in July for October hiring. A Police corporal position was cut (Gray accepted this but wants it kept on the radar); one unfilled Building Inspections position was cut (Mu worried about inspection speed; Town Manager Vosburg said the other vacancy would be filled).
  • Vehicles: four vehicle purchases were deferred (one Parks and Recreation special events van, three Police). Police Chief Johansen said he was comfortable with the scenario and prefers to prioritize current employees. Town Manager Vosburg noted police vehicles are typically replaced at about four years.
  • Operating cuts came from advertising, printing, supplies, professional services, lower-than-expected equipment quotes and some contracted services; a memorandum of key changes was to be posted on the Town website. See also Peakway Southwest Widening, which was removed in the 1.75-cent scenario.
  • Related item: District Attorney Position Funding ($168,000 Apex share) was set aside for this year's budget.
  • Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mahaffey, seconded by Gray, to proceed with a 1.75-cent increase as the base, identify 0.18 cent to restore to the Community Investment Fund and swap it for operational cuts, passed 5-0. Reese said cuts to the Community Investment Fund should happen only when absolutely necessary.

May 26 town hall

About 25 residents attended; four stations gathered sticky-note answers on priorities and tradeoffs (2026-05-26 - Budget Community Town Hall).

  • Rosemay Sanozky-Dawes asked about the Community Investment Fund amount and the funding in the budget for Flock license plate reader cameras (see Public Safety and License Plate Readers).
  • Lorraine Meehaw asked how "essential" positions are defined and for a list separating essential from non-essential positions; Mayor Pro Tem Mahaffey said the Town Manager was reviewing positions that could be frozen or delayed.
  • Osman thanked the Town for efforts to hold the property tax increase down and raised concerns about fee increases in the budget.
  • Andrew Gluck valued administrative staff and asked about vehicle and facility costs; Rome Fontaine worried about growth in apartments and townhomes (Mu noted renters pay taxes through rent); Montoya urged more reductions and noted inflation compounds annual increases. Linda Caffero's electric bill concerns are under Electric Meter Replacement Program.

May 28 public forum and remarks

  • Mayor Pro Tem Mahaffey reported the town hall and the June 9 hearing; Town Manager Vosburg said four public hearings had been held and a fifth was set for June 9.
  • Birkner opposed any increase, saying growth should not be paid for by existing residents and citing the revaluation.
  • Montoya said the budget includes a 2% market adjustment and 3% merit increases (about $3.6 million) plus a 5% 401(k) contribution, urged delaying pay increases for a year, and pointed to nearly $4 million of money not yet spent.
  • Stitt said public safety must stay first and suggested scaling back downtown improvements, public art, the Pleasant Park splash pad, solar panels on buildings, park lighting hours and condemnations.
  • Osman said the public only saw the preliminary budget in April, said he had emailed specific cuts that afternoon, and criticized the timing of the consent agenda spending (Consent Agenda Spending Concerns). Cozzolino made a similar point.

Sources

Log

2026-05-28 - Town Council Meeting

Public forum comments on the tax increase (Birkner, Montoya, Stitt, Osman, Cozzolino); announcements on the June 9 hearing.

2026-05-26 - Budget Community Town Hall

Residents answered prompts on priorities, tradeoffs and what to continue, start and stop; comments on essential positions, fees, growth and spending.

2026-05-21 - Town Council Budget Work Session

Council directed a 1.75-cent base increase 5-0 and asked for 0.18 cent of cuts to restore the Community Investment Fund.