(Continued from page 4)
The plan expects FEMA to continue to cover the costs of replacing sand lost in
federally declared storm events, which is a little more thari 50% of the expected
losses, leaving the county and the towns to cover the rest. The state has made it
clear that it will not be providing any nourishment money, meaning that the non-
FEMA cost of the master plan is likely to be split in a 75% county/25% town cost-
share, or in a 67% county/33% town cost-share. The county hasn’t decided yet
which it will be, and the master plan includes estimates of the county/towns cost-
shares for both cases. The Shore Protection Office splits the county’s occupancy
tax revenues (6%) with the county’s Tourism Authority, and this generates
approximately $2.5 million per year for beach nourishment. In addition, the
county has $9 million in reserve for beach nourishment activities.
The master plan expects that each town will cover the costs of replacing its
share (either 25% or 33%) of the actual background sand losses incurred in its
jurisdiction. For example. Pine Knoll Shores is expected to lose approximately
HcaihCkt imicr
PHYSICAL THERAPY • OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
SPEECH THERAPY • SKILLED NURSING • RESTORATIVE NURSING
4010 Bridges St. Ext. Morehead City • 252-726-0031 • www.crystalbluffs.com
til!
\Y/T William’s
W Floorcovering & Interiors
JUST ARRIVED
Large Selection Area Rug Display
• Hardwoods & Exotic Hardwoods
Area Rugs
Textured & Patterned Carpets • Laminates
• Ceramic Tile Sheet Vinyl & Designer
Vinyl Tiles Window Treatments
Service before, during & after the sale.
are one of thefeiv retailers offering in-house certified
installers and other old-fashioned courtesies.
(252) 726-4442 • (252) 726-6154
Westport Shopping Center HOURS: Mon.-Fri.
Hwy. 70 West • Morehead City 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
William Penri, Owner • Jimmy Pittman, Manager After Hours Appointments Available Upon Request
NAME BRANDS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES
T^rison^
’>surya
Bruce.
daltile*
Wtar* 0>w hMn
fbndatile
(^^mstrong
85,000 cubic yards of sand to background erosion each year, which would
cost the town either $260,000 per year or $343,000 per year in the 25% or 33%
share cases, respectively. This compares quite favorably with the approximately
$316,500 in sand taxes for beach nourishment generated annually by the town (at
tax rates of 1.4 cents and 5.2 cents per $100 dollars of assessed valuation for the
non-beach and beach-front tax districts).
The cost estimates are developed from past projects and they include the
costs of mobilization/demobilization. Total costs of the plan, in the 33%
town/67% county share case are expected to average $4.6 million per year, or
$230 million over the full 50-year life of the plan. Total revenues generated for
beach nourishment by the towns and by the Shore Protection Office’s share of
the county’s occupancy tax are currently $3.93 million per year, or $197 million
over 50 years, meaning that the entire master plan would be approximately
85% funded at current rates. This assumes that the special arrangement that
Atlantic Beach currently has with the Army Corps of Engineers for placement
of sand from the MHC Harbor Navigation project dissipates in the future and
Atlantic Beach becomes a full participant in the plan. If Atlantic Beach retains its
special relationship with the Corps of Engineers, then the plan is approximately
94% funded at current rates for the next 50 years which, as they say, “is close
enough for government work.” In addition, the plan may slightly overstate costs
because it assumes that there will be a nourishment event of up to three Mcy
of sand every three years. If the actual placement frequency is less, similar to
what we have experienced in the past, costs will be lower and we may have more
opportunities to “piggyback” on FEMA mobilization efforts and place additional
sand on our beaches at lower costs.
The master plan is a stunning achievement for the county, the towns and
a tribute to the Shore Protection Office, the Beach Commission and their
contractors. We now have a program in place that will protect our beaches far
into the future in an efficient manner with more certainty than ever before.
Everyone involved deserves a tip of our hats and our heartfelt appreciation. Now,
if only we could follow this model and do something to consolidate our police
and fire departments along the island.
^cive ilie ^aie-
Join us for our first
THIRD THURSDAY FORUM AT FOUR
for an opportunity to hear about
“Financial Resilience for Our Longer Lives”
wull.
Greg Patterson, Financial Advisor
Adantic Wealth Management
•
Jane Gordon, Estate Attorney
Kirkman, Whitford, Brady, Berryman and Farias, PA
•
Will Rogers, Tax Accountant
William M. Rogers, PA
MARCH 19, 4 P.M.
PINE KNOLL Shores town hall
February 2015 I The Shoreline 5