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Town Council

Town of Chapel Hill · Town Council
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 6:00 pm · Library, Meeting Room B

Regular meeting Budget and appropriationsFees and utility ratesStormwater and flooding

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Received 1.FY 2026-27 Budget Work Session received and filed · Pass · This Item was received and filed.
  2. Received CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED) entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member McCullough, that the…

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

The Town Council holds a work session on the FY 2026-27 budget, recommended at $169.7 million with about $100 million in the general fund and no proposed increase in the property tax rate. The council may also enter closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5), which covers real property acquisition matters.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Town Manager Ted Voorhees presented the $169.7 million recommended budget, saying it proposes no property tax rate increase and appropriates $500,000 from the fund balance, down from the prior year. He described a 4% market pay increase for employees, three new positions, and a 23% rise in the stormwater fund tied to an $8.798 per-ERU fee increase, while the transit and parking funds fall 1% and the housing fund rises 4%. Council members pressed him on the sustainability of department operating budgets and asked whether capital projects should move sooner given inflation.

Library and Community Arts & Culture Director Atlas Logan told the council that a cut in Orange County's contribution to the Chapel Hill Public Library could mean out-of-area fees, higher service fees, smaller collection budgets, and part-time layoffs affecting evening and weekend hours. Council members cited the 2023 Library Task Force Final Report and debated the same contingency options, along with the library's value to county residents beyond the town. The item was received and filed with no vote. The council then voted unanimously to enter closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) and, after recessing at 9:25 p.m., voted unanimously to adjourn the closed session and the meeting at 9:57 p.m.

How the votes went

On the motion to enter closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5), made by Mayor pro tem Berry and seconded by Council Member McCullough: unanimous. On the motion to adjourn the closed session and the meeting, made by Council Member McCullough and seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee: unanimous.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Chapel Hill's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (10)

Other · 4Procedural · 3Budget action · 1Closed session · 1Discussion item · 1
  1. WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!
    Other
  2. ROLL CALL
    Procedural
  3. OPENING
    Other
  4. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
    Procedural
  5. AGENDA ITEM(S)
    Other
  6. 1. FY 2026-27 Budget Work Session
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsFees and utility ratesStormwater and flooding
    Town Manager Ted Voorhees presented a $169.7 million recommended budget with no property tax increase but a $8.798 per-ERU stormwater fee increase, and council discussed the effect of falling Orange County funding on the Chapel Hill Public Library. The item was received and filed without a vote.
    received and filed · Pass · This Item was received and filed.
  7. CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED)
    Closed session
    entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member McCullough, that the Council entered into closed session as authorized by N.C. General Statute Section 143-138.11(a)(5). The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  8. ADJOURNMENT
    Procedural
  9. [26-0174] 0.01 Mayor Jessica Anderson
    Discussion item Budget and appropriations
    Mayor Jessica Anderson announced a celebration of Town Manager Ted Voorhees' birthday and reminded residents that the budget public hearing is set for May 20.
  10. OTHER ATTENDEES
    Other

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