The Town of Huntingdon approved its fiscal year 2026 budget Tuesday night, June 24, and finalized water and sewer rate adjustments during a meeting that drew a standing room-only crowd.
Residents from the lake area voiced concerns over their sewer billing, Mayor Chad Edwards clarified explained the necessity for the three percent rate increase, council members received progress updates on the Friends of the Dixie partnership.
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
The town’s $6.79 million budget passed on second reading with Council Member Chad Barnhart casting the only dissenting vote.
The budget ordinance did not reference a tax rate. However, the Town of Huntingdon will likely approve the certified, revenue neutral rate once the County Assessor’s Office releases it.
Mayor Edwards addressed the $800,000 overage in next year’s budget.
“It looks like our budget won’t balance, but what it is, is previous money we’ve had in reserve,” he said. “What our intentions are, is to buy a new fire truck.”
He said the town plans to renovate the police station, and hopefully purchase a tandem truck for the street department, as well.
“And then whatever money is left out of that we’re going to [do some work] on City Hall,” Edwards said. “The four columns [out front] need to be touched up.”
Additionally, town employees will get a 4% raise, and the town will keep covering full health insurance benefits, including a health savings accounts and life insurance.
Friends of the Dixie Partnership
Before the budget vote took place, Mayor Edwards asked Walter Butler, who is a member of Friends of the Dixie, to speak on the progress that the organization is making towards taking over operations.
“We’re making really good progress,” Butler said. “I can’t thank the staff enough for all their hard work.”
He gave some details about the Dixie’s upcoming season.
“I think 20 shows are already booked, and we’ve got three more on the hook.”
According to Butler, the three that are on the hook are going to be “pop up shows” that the artists will have to work into their schedule.
“We’re [excited] to announce our opening show, [soon].” he continued. “This might be the largest act to play this area in a long, long time.”
Butler then spoke about fiscal savings to the town of Huntingdon.
“We’ve already saved the city $85,000 in your coffers, where we’ve paid for artist retainer fees,” he noted.
Butler concluded, “We think it’s going in a good direction. Everybody’s working hard on it, and I think that during this next fiscal year for y’all, you’ll be able to see [major progress]. In two months time, we have come a lot further than I thought we could.”
Defense of the 3% Rate Increase
Mayor Edwards explained and defended the town’s three percent water/sewer rate increase before the vote took place.
Addressing concerns he read on social media, Edwards said, “At no point did I ever say that the 3% increase was mandatory. We’re off the Comptroller’s naughty list, [and] it’s our decision to do the increase.”
“The reason I think we should increase is because in the next three to five years, we’re going to have to build a $7 to $8 million water plant or renovate the one we’ve got,” he explained. “So if we go up a little [along the way], we can [hopefully] put money back in reserve, and when we get to that point, we might be able to put a bunch down instead of having to [borrow so much money].”
Mayor Edwards said they are actively looking for grants, as well.
“We’ve got a sewer project going on at our lagoon,” he continued. “Some of it paid by [grants], some of it’s coming out of our reserve.”
On that note, the Mayor concluded, “As much as I would love to run this place with minimal money, it takes a lot to operate today.”
The three percent increase passed unanimously.
Lake Sewer Rate Increase
Edwards went on to address the sewer rate around the lake.
“We have not went up on the lake rate since 2011,” he said. “That’s roughly a $10 increase.”
He noted that the town recently spent $1.4 million on a lift station renovation and installed another lift station near the lake to pump sewage to Huntingdon.
He addressed some of the challenges associated with providing only sewer.
“We can’t meter the water, because Cedar Grove [has rights to the area],” he said. “We might be able to get a report from them. But how is that fair to the houses that’s on a well?”
“So the best we could come up with is just a flat rate,” Mayor Edwards continued. “I hate it. I wish there was something better. [Myself and the Council] talked it over diligently, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t easy, but we’ve gotta pay for the parts and the stuff we’ve put [into the system]. We do not want the comptroller coming down here and running this town [again].”
Resident Response to the Lake Sewer Rate Increase
Henry and Jane Simpson, longtime lake residents, both addressed the council, asking that the rate be labeled more clearly to reflect what it is, which is a flat fee, rather than being tied to a presumed usage.
“It just sounds better,” Henry said. “It’s really just a flat rate, so why not call it that?”
Edwards agreed the language could be revisited.
“I don’t disagree with you at all on that,” he said. “It’s just how it was set up before us. I’m not saying it can’t be changed.”
Council Member Kelly Eubanks also asked what it would take to officially change the terminology and billing structure.
Town Attorney Robert Keeton responded that the town could amend the ordinance later, even after passing it.
Several residents questioned how the presumed usage was calculated.
Edwards explained it was based on an average of sewer usage from members of the town council.
“I just grabbed us at this table and averaged the bills,” he said.
Jaklyn Green, who recently moved to Angler’s Point, said her bill was nearly double what she paid for sewer service while renting in Jackson.
“We just want to make sure we’re paying the right amount,” she said. “And it’s just an assumption you guys are using.”
Mary Jenks raised concerns on behalf of seasonal residents who only use their lake homes part-time.
“They’re paying the same rate year-round,” she said. “And they’re not using anywhere close to that amount.”
Council Member Daniel Eubanks responded that the town has to weigh fairness against practicality.
“It’s a cost of service,” he said. “I think, to be fair, when they come to the lake here and they’re using the services, [they don’t] ask the city of Jackson [or wherever they’re from] to stop their service at their house [during the time that they’re not home].”
Mayor Edwards mentioned, “There’s no simple way to track usage when the homes aren’t on our water system.”
He then explained the broader goal and what the sewage system does for the lake.
“This town went out on a limb and ran sewer out there to protect the lake,” he said. “It’s coming at a hefty expense, but there’s no [other] way to get rid of it.”
He added that the system was built to prevent failing septic tanks from leaking into the water.
“We want to keep that lake beautiful,” he said. “And sewer was the only way to do that. Without sewer, you wouldn’t have those neighborhoods around the lake.”
Jane Simpson commended the council for their efforts and thanked them for listening to residents’ concerns about the sewer rate adjustments.
She acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions being made and expressed appreciation for the council’s responsiveness.
“Thank y’all for doing what you do,” she said. “You’ve listened to us, and I appreciate that.”
The ordinance passed unanimously, and the Council intends to address its language at a later date.
