Robbinsville – The first budget under Stacy Carpenter’s tenure as the Graham County finance officer was revealed at the June 20 board of commissioners meeting.
Carpenter has budgeted $23,440,758 for the general fund, with $1,009,260 (4 percent) of the sum categorized as “special funds” – monies allocated for specific use.
The board adopted the budget ordinance 5-0 shortly after Carpenter’s summary of the 17-page document, which notably included a huge anticipation of property-tax revenue. Residents countywide expressed frustration with the outsourcing of tax appraisals this year, with many requesting time before the board of equalization and review to appeal a universal increase in property values.
Even after most appeals led to lower bills, $9,232,232 is still projected to account for 39 percent of the county’s revenue.
Public safety is the main focus of expenditures, as the county plans on focusing $8,361,475 (35.67 percent) toward the category. Leading the spending is the sheriff’s office ($2,372,531), ambulance/Emergency Medical Services billing ($2,263,913) and detention center ($1,364,958).
The county still has $5 million patiently waiting to be put toward its planned justice center, thanks to the State Community Infrastructure Grant. Also included in the paperwork at the meeting was Jason Marino’s county project manager report, which noted that two more potential construction sites were recently visited by Marino and commission chairman Jacob Nelms, but those locations were not defined publicly.
No decision has been made about where the justice center will be erected.
Other line items that stood out in the budget include:
* The county’s millage rate has dropped six cents, from 0.65 to 0.59;
* While current tax bills due account for the largest chunk of anticipated revenue, past-due bills ($96,240 at the time of the draft) were on the opposite end of the spectrum (0.41 percent, the lowest revenue source);
* The county has not had a permanent economic development director since Sophia Paulos’ departure early last year, but plans to outsource the job in a $164,483 category, which is broken down between county planner ($18,000); economic development commission ($12,000); and building inspector ($134,483);
* The departments of social services ($2,973,098) and public health ($2,122,398) make up the largest portion of the four-part “human services” section. The rest goes to the senior center ($572,518) and veterans ($4,000);
* Recreation will operate under a $470,426 budget. Marino’s project report definitively termed both the new cemetery and recreation buildings on West Fort Hill as 100 percent complete; the board later approved a $16,882.40 payment to WNC Contracting for putting the final touches on the new structures.
Other news & notes
* Despite all the hype around the county’s boards of commissioners and education discussing necessary repairs to the home bleachers at Big Oaks Stadium, the special joint meeting was postponed not once (Friday), but twice (Tuesday), as the engineer’s recommendation for repair has not been received. The meeting is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. – and will be live-streamed on The Graham Star’s Facebook page.
* Dale Wiggins submitted his resignation from the Four Square Community Action Board of Directors; Commissioner Connie Orr is Graham County’s other governmental representative on the board. The commissioners agreed to table the appointment of Wiggins’ replacement until July.
* The board unanimously approved the reappointment of Brandy Cook as the county tax assessor for four years, Heather Webster as deputy tax assessor for four years and Dequina Cable as deputy tax collector for four years.