Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 9, 2019, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews Journal Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905 75^ No. 45 Vol.113 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, January 9,2019 Hoke gets audit done on time Fewer findings cited in report, fund balance now total $23 miUion or 55 percent By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Hoke County got its audit done on time and reduced the number of findings from 14 to four this year, and also increased its Gen eral Fund balance to about $23 million, according to an auditing firm. The $23 million in savings is roughly 55 percent of the county’s annual budget as calculated by the Local Government Commission of the North Carolina Treasurer’s Office. The LGC generally re quires local governments to keep at least eight percent of its annual budget in reserve as emergency funds. In the past Hoke’s reserve fund fell to about seven percent, but over the last three years the county has grown the fund by millions of dollars. Commission Chairman James Leach described the fund balance as “historic” for Hoke County. “Hoke County’s never had a fund balance like that in all the days of my life but other folks’ life, too,” he said. “We have never had a fund balance at that rate. I recall some years back it was seven percent and they almost ran us out of the county, then it went to eight. (Commissioner) Bobby (Wright), you recall those days. It’s historic for Hoke County.” Representatives from the audit ing firm Martin, Starnes and As sociates of Raleigh presented the 2018 audit report to the commis sioners Monday night at the first meeting of the new year. The county’s single largest rev enue is ad valorem taxes, which makes up about 56 percent of the income. Local option sales tax accounts for 21 percent of (See AUDIT, page 4) ' ' I 1 ‘ I' '" ' ‘ I I’1 ' vt’j'.ll' i.:.. Survey asks what you want in parks and rec. By Catharin Shepard Staff writer W rm m ■v ^ V' A new survey gives Hoke County resi dents a chance to tell county leaders what Parks and Recreation offerings they want to see, and whether they would support a tax increase to pay for recreation develop ment. If enough people fill out the online survey, it could also help the county secure grant funding to pro vide more offerings through the depart ment, Hoke County Manager Letitia Edens said. “It’s important that the community does this survey. We need to have about three percent of the popula tion do this survey, because when we do our grants, they need to have that much data when we get it back (See SURVEY, page 8) ‘They are part of us and so we have a responsibility’ Commissioners hear petition from Northwoods residents By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Gentle flyers Tony Higbee (top) from Sanford admits he and his buddy Todd Scott (above) from Raeford look like a couple of guys with lawn chairs strapped to their opposite ends as they fly above Raeford strapped into their paramotors.They were enjoying their first flight of the year last Wednesday, leaving a trail of gawking kids (and adults) from near Hoke High School to their landing point at Riverbrooke Subdivision. (Ken MacDonald photos) A petition circulat ed among residents of the Northwoods sub division in East Hoke collected more than 70 signatures ask ing the Hoke County Board of Commis sioners to help the neighborhood with its ongoing flooding problem. Whenever there’s a hard rain, water backs up into the neighbor hood’s streets. Some times it’s so deep that cars can’t drive through it. Even larger vehicles have difficul ty, and residents with trucks report they’re starting to see damage from it. Concerned citizens presented the petition to the commissioners Monday night during the public input ses sion, seeking support out of concerns that the flooding could present a safety (See NORTH- WOODS, page 8) Follow us on Focebook By Ken MacDonald ‘You have to talk to them in German’ I was sitting in the doctor’s office waiting. Absorbed in a book, I detected in my peripheral vision, the oc casional glances of an older gentleman beside me. Let’s say, much older. We had been there quite some time, and he kept shifting around somewhat impatiently. Finally, he said to me loudly, almost like an accusation, “Are you reading a book?” The other 25 people in the room looked up from their diversions because of the sudden disruption. “Yes,” I answered. I showed him my phone, which (See OTHER STUEE, page 8) By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Cash and Rocky might look a little grey around the muzzle, but for nine-year-old police dogs, that’s to be expected. The two Malinois K-9 officers received acclaim for their long law enforcement careers Monday night at the Hoke County Board of Commissioners meeting. The board voted to allow the dogs’ handlers, Sgt, (See DOGS, page 8) SUBSCRIBE# J ews -Journal
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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