Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Christiansburg Town Manager Dr. Kim Eagle is recommending a $113 million budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which includes no tax increases.
During a regularly scheduled meeting this past week, Eagle said the overall budget increases 4.6 percent from the past fiscal year but does not need a tax increase across the board. There would also be no increase on water or sewer fees.
“I have taken a conservative approach to this budget, while funding the town’s core services,” she said.
The town should see, according to Eagle, meals tax revenue increasing slightly, by about one percent, but that increase could be even higher. Sales tax is projected to be down a bit, and lodging tax is projected as flat.
Initially, department heads had requested 20 new positions. The proposed budget includes eight new town positions.
The new positions listed in Eagle’s proposal are two firefighters, two paramedics, two police officers, one detective, one therapeutic recreation specialist, one competitive event supervisor, one wellness and workforce coordinator and one accountant.
The budget includes a three percent cost of living increase ($555,747 budget total) for all town employees. East pointed out a comparison of nearby Blacksburg shows this would be higher than their proposed amount of two percent COLA.
Christiansburg’s COLA increase is proposed to begin July 1 of this year.
The proposed budget would include $1.27 million for new radios for police, EMS and fire. In addition, it includes $3.36 million for antenna projects through the NRV Emergency 911 Dispatch.
Eagle said she plans to explore a meals tax rebate pilot program, which could attract new non-chain restaurant businesses.
Capital projects in the budget include railroad crossing repairs for Peppers Ferry Rd. NW, annual paving, North Franklin bridge deck, town hall parking lot (located behind Montgomery Museum) and VDOT application assistance funds.
A separate line item through the capital water and wastewater fund includes design services for a new public works facility.
Requests from non-profit agencies total $52,000 in the proposed budget.
Council is scheduled to hold several work sessions to debate the budget over the next month, and a final publication for the budget and tax rate adoption by May 12.
In other matters, council set a public hearing for April 14 for the Christiansburg Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
Council also approved a professional services contract for master planning and design services for the Public Works Operations Center (Initial Phase not to exceed $360,000).
Other items:
Set a three-year conditional use permit for Rockstep Christiansburg LLC to operate a carnival at the Uptown Christiansburg location. This year, the carnival runs Mar. 26 through April 5.
