Holly Springs Town Council Begins Fiscal-Year 2026 Budget Talks
Key focus areas include capital investments, micro-transit and potential Ting Park investment. Final budget is due in coming months.
Holly Springs, NC, Apr. 10, 2025—During its workshop on April 8th, the Holly Springs Town Council began shaping its vision for the upcoming fiscal year, previewing plans for the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) town budget. The discussion focused on preparing for micro-transit implementation, capital investments, and the potential for a public-private partnership (PPP) around Ting Park redevelopment.
Town Manager Randy Harrington led the presentation, emphasizing the early stage of the process while inviting council feedback on key areas that will influence the final budget proposal, which is due later this spring.
“This is more than a budget update, although that’s how it’s listed,” Harrington said. “There are some things that we’re working on from a staff level, that we wanted to get back in front of you all and kind of check in on a couple things.”
Micro-Transit Pilot Part of FY26 Planning
Among the items on the table is a micro-transit program, which would expand flexible transportation access in underserved areas. While the concept has been discussed in previous sessions, Tuesday’s workshop confirmed it will be included in the FY26 budget development.
“We just want to kind of check in on that and make sure we’re good with that direction. That will be a part of the FY26 budget,” Harrington said.
Council signaled support for the initiative, which could help bridge service gaps as the town grows and mobility needs evolve.
Ting Park Redevelopment to Influence Budget Strategy
A significant portion of the discussion centered on how Ting Park’s potential redevelopment—including mixed-use facilities, retail, and a boutique hotel—might fit into the town’s financial roadmap.
The town is currently exploring a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the project, with possibilities ranging from land contribution to phased infrastructure support. But councilmembers stressed the importance of timing and scale as they weigh how much public investment to commit—and when.
“We’re trying to be bold in our thinking about some of these things,” Harrington said. “We want to make sure we’re doing that in a responsible and phased and smart way, but also a bold way.”
“I do think we have some big questions on how much and the timing of that, which kind of wraps into the budget discussion,” said Councilmember Dan Berry.
No specific cost estimates were shared for the redevelopment effort. Still, councilmembers noted that the vision would likely unfold over several years and should be reflected in long-range capital planning.
Earlier HSU Story: Holly Springs Town Council Charts Vision for Ting Park Redevelopment
Budget Proposal Coming Soon
The staff will return with a full proposed budget for Council review in the coming months. Future workshops will help define priorities and shape the funding strategy for FY26, particularly regarding transportation and strategic development opportunities.
“We’ll come back to you with some proposals and start to build that into the proposed budget that comes your way in a couple months,” Harrington said.
As the town faces rapid population growth and expanding infrastructure needs, the FY26 budget is expected to be one of the most consequential in recent years, balancing near-term service delivery with long-term community investments.