Budget

The budget is a blueprint for building a sound financial framework for town operations. It ensures the town's resources are allocated toward the priorities identified by the Board of Commissioners. Specifically, the budget is a financial plan consisting of an estimate of proposed expenditures, the proposed means of financing and the goals and objectives of expenditures for the fiscal year (July 1-June 30).

To address local impacts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government allocated funds to other units of government through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA). These funds are commonly referred to as state and local fiscal recovery funds. Hillsborough received nearly $2.3 million in two equal distributions about one year apart. The allocation amount was determined by the United States Treasury, based on Hillsborough’s population proportion among all non-metropolitan areas in North Carolina.

Plan for funds

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners decided to spend its allocation to address a portion of necessary water and sewer improvement projects over several fiscal years. The funds are being spent in an expenditure category allowed by the United States Treasury for local government units for the general provision of government services.

In October 2023, the town board voted to allocate all unspent American Rescue Plan funds to reimbursing the Water and Sewer Fund for 2022 salaries. This transaction — authorized in United States Treasury rules — created unrestricted fund balance that the town then allocated to its previously identified American Rescue Plan Act projects. These funds are allocated to the town’s capital project funds through project ordinances. They are no longer subject to compliance regulations of the act and are considered “ARPA-enabled projects.” This action reduced administrative burden and eliminates the previous expenditure deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.

Revenues

Below is information on the American Rescue Plan funds:

• Award amount — $2,282,192.40
• Interest — $48,733.00
• Total — $2,330,925.40

Expenditures

The funds are being used for the following utilities projects, with expenditures totaling the total amount of revenues above.

Water system

• Water Treatment Plant filter repair — $83,460
• Water Treatment Plant upgrade to SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition control system for high-level supervision of machines and processes) — $48,618
• Galvanized water main replacement (ARPA-enabled) — $160,000
• Hydrant and valve replacements (ARPA-enabled) — $487,647.40
• McAdams Road water main replacement (ARPA-enabled) — $350,000
• Water Treatment Plant paving and curbing repair (ARPA-enabled) — $90,000

Sewer system

• Wastewater Treatment Plant clarifier coating — $176,200
• Lawndale Basin rehabilitation (ARPA-enabled) — $935,000

Fleet Maintenance Operations maintains all Town of Hillsborough vehicles, heavy equipment and self-propelled mowers, as well as miscellaneous equipment such as push mowers, weed trimmers, pumps, welders and generators. For more information, see the Fleet Maintenance Operations page on this website.