First the good news.
Town of Lexington officials plan no property tax increase this year.
The Town Council approved its 2018-2019 spending plan for the year that started July 1. The town’s expenses are going up, but residents won’t see a tax increase.
Water and sewer rates will rise 2.5% to pay off bond debt in five years.
This is the 4th year Lexington has increased utility fees.
Next year the town will decide if it can afford to hold rates where they are.
Spending will rise over $3 million, from $34,045,736 to $37,301,841 in 2019.
Buying the Carolina Water Service I-20 sewer plant will cost about $10 million over five years, Town Administrator Britt Poole said. 
$1.3 million of this total is in the 2019 plant.
The project will add about 2,000 utility customers.
The Cromer Road pump station project will need $6.3 million in 2019, Poole said.
Money for both will come from reserve funds.
The utility fund is “self-supporting,” so it doesn’t directly impact taxpayer wallets, Poole said.
Though property taxes will remain constant again this year, the total revenue from property taxes is increasing.
There is a “booming economy,” Poole said.
There are going to be “a lot of hires” in 2019. Nine new employees will be contracted, primarily under the police department and the utility company.
A new school resource officer will be hired for the 3 area elementary schools.
Poole said this will “increase the coverage by 100 percent” at each school.