Budget

FY25-26 Budget Highlights

• Total Budget (all funds): $237,313,200
• General Fund: $113,894,600
• Electric Fund: $64,047,600
• Water & Sewer Fund: $31,062,500
• Stormwater Fund: $3,170,000
• Non-major & Capital Funds: $25,138,500
• Property Tax Rate: $0.356 per $100 valuation
• Garbage and Recycling: residential increase of $0.35 per month due to GFL contract increase
• Yard Waste: unchanged  
• Electric Rate: $1.50 base rate increase and 4% increase in energy charge
• Water rates: 4% increase in water base rate and volumetric rate
• Sewer rate: 4% increase in sewer base rate and volumetric rate  

Following Town Council’s direction, the FY25-26 budget is balanced with a $0.356 tax rate per $100 of valuation. The $0.016 increase from the FY24-25 tax rate is tied to the 2021 voter-approved Transportation Bond. Except for the previously approved bond, the tax rate remains flat, reflecting Town Council’s ongoing commitment to minimizing economic impacts on our residents.

Personnel accounts for over half of General Fund expenditures. Adding 31.25 new positions in FY25-26 across 15 departments increases personnel costs. Apex prioritizes fair and competitive employee compensation and benefits, reflecting the Town's commitment to performing at the highest level, empowering one another, maintaining accountability, and pursuing continuous knowledge. The Town has taken an employee-focused approach through several initiatives: increasing base salaries by 2% to remain competitive in the current labor market, implementing 2-4% merit adjustments for permanent employees, investing in career pathways and development, offering a lifestyle wellness bonus, providing high-quality yet affordable healthcare, and enhancing contributions to employee retirement benefits. In every initiative, from compensation and career growth to wellness, the Town of Apex is guided by community values and its mission of helping all people reach their peak.

In preparing the FY25-26 budget, Town staff followed guidance from the Town Council’s strategic goals to develop a proactive budget that balances improving current Town programs and services with creating new programs and projects.

A Welcoming Community

Create a safe and welcoming environment fostering community connections and high quality recreational and cultural experiences supporting a sense of belonging 

Budget items supporting this goal include: 

• Continue Offering a Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program
• Provide Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Opportunities for All Residents
  1. Cricket Batting Cage
  2. Sculpture Walk
  3. Athletics, Program, and Class Instructors
  4. Shade Structures Design
  5. Senior Center Accessibility Improvements
• Ensure Safe Places and Spaces
  1. Fire Engine Addition
  2. Community Gun Safety Program
  3. Vision Zero Traffic Safety Countermeasures
  4. Crosswalk Beacon Upgrades
  5. Police Department Drone Program 
  6. Sidewalk Trip Hazard Assessment and Repairs
• Build a Sense of Community through Special Events

High Performing Government 

Deliver exceptional service valuing an engaged workforce with an emphasis on efficiency, collaboration, and innovation.

Budget items supporting this goal include: 

• Continue Implementing Organization Assessment Recommendations by Adding New Positions Across Town Departments
• Invest in Employee Professional Development via Travel, Training, and Employee Tuition Reimbursement
• Offer Benefits to Attract, Retain, and Develop our Workforce, such as the Peak Lifestyle Wellness Benefit and Town-wide Employee Recognition Initiatives
• Provide Customer-Focused Service
  1. Transcribe All Meeting Minutes with an Independent Contractor
  2. Implement Park Court Availability Technology
  3. Implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Transition Phase 3
  4. Utilize Solid Waste Routing Software
  5. Implement Ask Apex Customer Relations Management Software
• Focus on Fiscal Responsibility and Stewardship
  1. Implement Grant Assistance and Administration Contract
  2. Conduct Pay Scale and Classification Study
  3. Utilize General Government Debt Model and Consultations

Environmental Leadership

Commit to sustaining natural resources and environmental well-being 

Budget items supporting this goal include: 

• Lead in Renewable Energy and Conservation by Replacing Electric Vehicle Chargers, Utilizing Enpira Energy Management Software, and Update the Town’s Sustainability Action Plan
• Continue Offering the Plant the Peak Program
• Host Earth Fest

Responsible Development

Encourage equitable and sustainable development that provides accessibility and connectivity throughout the community 

Budget items supporting this goal include: 

• Support Housing Options via Affordable Housing Fund Allocations, Community Land Trust Setup and Operation, and Affordable Housing Zoning Research and Ordinance Draft
• Improve Mobility via the Transit Program, Pleasant Plains Access and Connectivity Study, and South Salem Street Bicycle Connection
• Focus on Infrastructure Improvements via Pavement Management, ADA Accessibility Improvements, and a Pavement Condition Survey

Economic Vitality

Improve and sustain an environment that invites and retains a diversity of residents, employment opportunities, and businesses

Budget items supporting this goal include: 

• Implement the Downtown Master Plan by Funding the Downtown Façade Grant Program and Downtown Parking Mitigation Shuttle
• Recruit, Retain, and Develop Businesses via Economic Development Incentives, LaunchAPEX, Apex Farmers Market, and Economic Development Honors Seminar

How You Can Participate:

• Speak Up at the two annual budget public hearings.
• Email your feedback on budget priorities are welcome any time throughout the budget planning process (All emails sent to this address are reviewed by budget staff and the full Town Council.)