The Gastonia City Council adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget during its Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 2, approving a $378.75 million spending plan that maintains essential services, supports strategic priorities, and positions the City for continued growth.
The FY 2027 budget includes:
- No property tax increase, maintaining the current tax rate of $0.47 per $100 valuation
- No increase in electric rates
- A 7.5% water and sewer rate adjustment to support system maintenance and infrastructure improvements
- A $2 monthly increase in residential solid waste collection fees, with an additional $2.50 per month for each extra cart
- A $1.00 increase in the admission fee for the Schiele Museum Planetarium
- Updated GO Gastonia fares, including:
- Regular one-way fare increasing from $2.50 to $3.00
- Reduced one-way fare (elderly and disabled) increasing from $1.25 to $1.50
- A distance-based surcharge for trips exceeding 5 miles: $1.00 for regular fares and $0.50 for reduced fares
- A 3.5% across-the-board pay increase for employees and an additional 1% increase for employees who complete the City's career development program, effective January 1, 2027
"The budget reflects a balanced approach that maintains the high level of service our residents expect while making investments that support Gastonia's future," said Mayor Richard Franks. "I appreciate the work that our City staff put into this budget and the thoughtful consideration by our City Council throughout this process."
The budget was developed through a months-long process that included departmental planning, financial analysis, and public discussion. City Manager Michael Peoples presented the recommended budget on Tuesday, May 4, 2026, during a Public Hearing at the Regular City Council meeting.
The adopted budget goes into effect on July 1, 2026, and is available for viewing on the City’s website.
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Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government and vibrant business environment.