Robbinsville – Town of Robbinsville residents will see their millage rate unchanged and their water rates go down about $2 per month, under a spending plan approved by aldermen last week.
Town employees will also be receiving holiday bonuses, 3-percent pay increases and COVID-19-related premium pay.
The board made the decisions at its May 18 special meeting.
The town’s millage rate will remain 60 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Water rates will go from $30.05 to $28 for in-town water only, $50.10 to $48 for in-town water and sewer, $40 to $38 for out-town water only, and $70.90 to $69 for out-town water and sewer.
Town employees will receive $4,500 for full-time employees and $2,500 for part-time employees in premium pay funded by the COVID-19-related American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
It is the second phase of premium pay under the act for essential town employees because of their continued work under pandemic conditions.
The board also voted to give employees 3 percent raises – effective Friday, July 1 – and a $550 holiday bonus around Thanksgiving for full-time employees and $275 holiday bonus for part-time employees.
Other approvals
* Grace Place: $4,000 to Grace Place, a community food bank and soup kitchen that accounts for the lion’s share of services to the needy in Graham County.
* Christmas spending: The town will spend $1,500 for a Christmas parade and $6,000 for Christmas lights.
* Community support: The board allocated funding for several other community events and projects, including: Nantahala Regional Library, $8,000; street dance, $4,000; Graham County Senior Center, $3,000; downtown projects, $5,000; festivals, $5,000; Fishing Derby, $1,500; and Halloween candy, $500.
* Other ARPA funding: The board approved additional expenditures covered by the American Rescue Plan Act, including $32,987 for a lift-station pump, $8,555 for a backwash pump, $5,732 for a drilling machine and $4,387 for a back-up pump.
* Other equipment: The board approved $4,500 for a dry shed, $5,500 for a chemical storage shed and $636 for an impact drill for the town’s maintenance department.