By Jesse Wood
June 21, 2012. A public hearing regarding Boone’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2012-13 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Boone Town Council meeting held at Council Chambers at 1500 Blowing Rock Road, which is next door to the Boone Police Department.
Scroll below for budget summary and budget highlights, or click here to view entire budget.
Budget Summary:
- General Fund – $12,445,205
- E-911 Fund – 134,155
- Narcotics Enforcement – $24,100
- Rural Fire Service District – $691, 586
- Municipal Service District – $112,436
- Insurance Fund – $1,752,500
- Water and Sewer Fund – $7,032,203
Highlights of the budget include:
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Property tax rate to remain the same at $0.37 per $100 valuation, with revenues projected at a 97.5 percent collection rate
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Cost of living raise is recommended at 3 percent; health and dental insurance maintained with no added expenses; and request to add two full-times employees and one part-time employee for Cultural Resources program
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Town’s allocation for 911 Telephone Fund increases $2,438 annually
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Rural Fire Service District tax rate increases $.01 to $.05 for $100 valuation for funding a future third fire station, with revenues projected at 95 percent collection rate
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Municipal Service District revenues budgeted at $0.21 per $100 valuation, reflecting a 96.75 percent collection rate in accordance to Watauga County’s appraised values
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Increases for water and sewer minimums are proposed at $.25 for residential and commercial accounts; inside city consumption rates are proposed to $.25 per 1,000 gallons in each tier; inside city usage rates for sewer are proposed to increase $.25 per 1,000 gallons for residential and commercial accounts; rate increases for outside accounts are proposed at $.50 per 1,000 gallons in each tier for both residential and commercial; water consumption rates for outside customers are proposed to increase $.50 per 1,000 gallons in each tier for both residential and commercial; and sewer usage for outside city limits is proposed to increase $.50 per 1,000 gallons for residential and commercial