Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / June 19, 1986, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 54, No. 24 USPS 42S-0M Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, June 19, 1986 25 CENTS County Commissioners axe proposed tax hike ? * By JANE B. WILLIAMS Perquimans County Commis sioners addressed the proposed $2,700,181.00 Fiscal Year Budget for 1986-87 on Monday night dur ing a public hearing at the County Courthouse. WW. (Welly) White, Jr., chair man of the Board, told the group of approximately 25 people that the Board had met on Wednesday night and cut the proposed tax hike from four-cents to two cents, bring the ad valorem tax rate to 68-cents per $100.00 eval ? ulation. White stated that among the reasons for the two-cent increase this year is the planned cessation LOCAL BEAUTY ? Perhaps no other animal or bird known to man is a beautiful as a swan. This beauty has been spotted recently in the Perquimans River on U.S. 17 Business near the Perquimans River Bridge. (Photo by George Wilmore.) Local schools receive accreditation By SUSAN HARRIS Bill Britt, Director of the Northeast Regional Center for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, presented an accreditation certificate from the state to the Perquimans County Schools at the Board of Education meeting on Monday night. Britt emphasized to Board members that the accreditation i process is not mandatory, but rather is a voluntary program. In order to be considered for accreditation, the school system performed a self-study of its pro grams and personnel. The study RECEIVE ACCREDITATION? The Perqui mans County School System received a Certif icate of Accreditation on Monday night from the State of North Carolina. Receiving the Cer tificate was Board of Education Chairman Clifford Winslow (left). He was presented the Certificate by Bill Britt, Director of the North east Regional Center for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. (Photo by Susan Har ris.) Haskett urges preparedness for emergency situations "Being prepared for the hurri cane season can make a signifi cant difference in your ability to cope with the violent storms," says Keith W. Haskett of the Per quimans County Emergency Management Agency. Each North Carolina Coastal county has an emergency plan to combat the menace, and individ uals need to be prepared for threats to their safety. Remem ber, hurricanes are unpreditable ? nl M ,1 .,|.f ^ l(t< I,, n ,| ? n B-i 1 1 1 ? ftn in tneir destructive capaoulties, so you may have to rely on your self for a period of time during A hurricane begins as a tropi cal storm somewhere over the ocean. Routing in a circular pat tern, the storm qukkly picks iv speed and momentum, reaching wind speeds of 74 miles per nour and is thus labeled a full-force hurricane. The strong winds and heavy rains of a hurricane can pose a threat to human life and property, but the moat dangerous element of a hurricane is the storm surge. As the storm moves across the coastal area, tided of three to ten feet above normal are common occurrences. In some cases, surging tides may rise above 20 feet and flood low lying areas. It is never too early to set aside the supplies you would need during a hurricane emergency. People traditionally stock supplies such as extra med ication or an extra pair of glasses for emergency situations. A hur ricane emeraency is no less hn portant, and special precautions or preparations should be made for your protection. The Perquimans County Emergency Management Agency along with the North Car olina Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service suggest that a list of hurricane preparation sup plies should include several day's supply of drinking water and non-perishable food, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, battery powdered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries. Information on hurricanes and evacuation planning can be ob tained by contacting the Perqui mans County Emergency Man agement Agency. u co-ordinators determined the present status of the programs and personnel. Then goals for five to six years in the future were set, and plans were mapped to reach these goals. The study was then submitted to the state for review and recommendation to the State Board of Public In struction. Britt commended the efforts of the personnel who prepared the study for review. The Board rec ognized Susan B. Winslow and Shelton Davis as co-ordinators of the project, and thanked them for their work in compiling the required information. The Perquimans County Schools are now accredited by the State of North Carolina and the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. of Revenue Sharing Funds in Oc tober, and an increase in man dated federal and state pro grams. The county anticipates receiving $63,800 in Revenue Sharing Funds prior to the cut, in comparison to the $178,000 re ceived in the current fiscal year. Including the amount expected by October, the county will have approximately $153,600 on hand from Revenue Sharing in the up coming fiscal year. Investment earnings have created $2,000, and the county has $87,800 on hand in left-over funds. Revenue Sharing Funds for the upcoming year are expected to go towards replacement of a sheriff's department vehicle at a cost of $11,000; replacement of a county water tanker at $55,776; purchase of a truck for the dog catcher at $7,000; a $16,500 par tial payment for a new tax office computer; and a $33,500 appro priation for the county's volun teer fire departments. The re maining $29,824 will go into the county's general fund. The major concerns presented by those in attendance on Mon day were the increase of taxes, county reserve fund balances, and the plight of the local econ omy. Many of the group assembled were senior citizens from Bethel Township. They expressed con cern over a larger tax bill that would create hardships for those residents living on fixed in comes. Bethel resident Charles White accused the Board of operating illegally by taxation for the pur pose of creating a surplus. "It's illegal to tax money to put it in the bank," White said. John Jennings, a Republican Candidate for County Commis sioner, joined White in chastising the Board for a reserve in the bank, calling it "overtaxation". In defense of the expected $1,230,000 reserve fund at the end of the current fiscal year, County Manager Randy Keaton stated that having a reserve was due to good management and good planning. Commissioner Lester Simpson echoed Keaton's remark, stating that the Local Government Com mission says it's good business to operate with a reserve. Commissioner Thomas Nixon addressed the issue saying that the county did not tax for the pur pose of building up a bank ac count. He told the group that the present reserve has been built up over a 20-year period. In replying to Mr. Charles White's comments regarding il legalities, Nixon told him that "You've farmed long enough to know that you've got to have a little saved up to take care of what's necessary ." Nixon assured him that every dime of fund balance left this year has been put back into this White then stated that "In other words, you ain't cheating this year, but it has been done in ^MeS^oHhe Board assured those present that taxes had not been increased to create a sur plus. Monies that are currently on hand in reserve have been cre ated over a number of years from unused budgeted funds. Keaton also pointed out that m the upcoming fiscal year, the tax rate is five-cents lower due to in terest generated from the coun ty's reserve fund. Several people concerned witn the current situation in agricul ture asked the Board to consider the farmer when implementing a tax increase. ^ , Billy Williams told the Board that the reserve of the ^"ner was about gone, and asked them to "help us out as much as you can," adding that when thefarm ers were better off they d help out the county. . . . Williams was joined in his plea by Shirley Perry, Republican Candidate for the North Carohna General Assembly, who told the group that "Farmers are barely hanging on now." She reminded the Board that "this is a rural county that depends largely on farmers." , .. John Jennings encouraged the Board to use the county's reserve funds to work towards industrial development. A petition asking the Board to leave the county's tax rate as it is was presented by Mrs. Elaine Phillips. The petition contained 49 names, mostly senior citizens. The proposed budget was changed following the hearing When the Board adjourned to their regular monthly meeting After consideration of comments gathered at the hearing the Board elected to leave the coun ty's tax rate at 66-cents, with no increase for the upcoming year The Board anticipates a $189,00? fund balance at the end of the current fiscal year, which would account for a one-cent drop in the proposed tax rate. The additional monies needed to fulfill the 1986 87 budget requirements will come from the county's reserve account. Terrill sworn in as officer HERTFORD? Police Chief Marshall Merritt announced last Thursday that the town's Police Department was now back to full strength with five certified officers. The announcement came following the swearing-in cer emony of Officer Stephen Ter rill, a 41-year old Elizabeth City native and a recent grad uate of the Basic Law En forcement Training Course of fered through the College of The Albemarle. Terrill was sworn in Thurs day afternoon by Perquimans County Clerk of Court Jarvis Ward in the Clerk's Office. A Navy veteran and former science teacher, Terrill con sidered changing to law en forcement as a career for many years prior to making his decision. Terrill, who resides in Pas quotank County, enjoys hunt ing and fishing. Officer Stephen Terrill, right, is pictured at he Jarvis Ward, Clerk of Court in Perquimans is sworn in as a law enforcement offlcer by County. (Photo hy Jane Williams.)
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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June 19, 1986, edition 1
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