By Jesse Wood
June 4, 2014. Boone Manager Greg Young recommended a five-cent property tax increase in the proposed 2014-15 fiscal year budget.
If approved by the Boone Town Council, the tax rate would rise to 42 cents per $100 valuation.
In the budget message dated May 29, Young wrote: “General Fund is once again impacted significantly due to Watauga County’s decision to keep the method of sales tax distribution the same as last year, which will again result in a projected annual loss of $2 for the town. The proposed budget reflects the continuation of basic services and maintains existing personnel. In order to balance the budget with the $2-million shortfall, however, departments were asked to keep their budgets flat.”
Young also mentioned that he is recommending cost increases for water and sewer fees as “another incremental step toward anticipated debt for the water intake project.”
Young also recommended a rate increase of 50 cents for the minimum charge and, in addition, the rates be increased by 50 cents per 1,000 gallons per tier.
Personnel will receive a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment as well as 2 percent of budgeted salaries for merit increases. Young noted that the last time the budget reflected a merit increase was 2008-09 fiscal year.
Young noted that he awaits the council’s instructions about tweaking the budget in upcoming workshops planned Monday morning on June 9 at the Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road and possibly Tuesday afternoon on June 10 .
Read the entire budget message here.
Peruse the entire recommended budget here.
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