Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / June 30, 1988, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Serving Madison And Buncombe Counties f?i?;: 1 Vol. 88 No. 26 Thursday, June 30, 1988 25c County Budget Approved Revaluations Offset Drop In Property Tax By STEVE FERGUSON Interim Editor Although the new county budget in cludes a drop in the tax rate, many landowners may still see increased property tax bills. The county commissioners Monday approved the 1988-89 budget which lowers rates from 99 cents to 71 cents per $100 worth of property. That budget includes a continuation of 24-hour ambulance service in Madison County, a S percent raise for all county employees and an S per cent increase for education spending. The increase for taxpayers comes from the revaluation of land values which has tripled for some property owners. About SO people attended the 1 p.m. meeting, an unusually large number for a daytime commissioners public hearing. Most voiced anger over the revaluations. "(Property estimates) did jump quite a bit," said Irene Lee of Roberts Real Estate. "Our personal property value rose about two and one-half times." "A lot of people have told me they would love to sell their property at what it's valued at," she said. At least six landowners have ap pealed their revaluations to Raleigh, i This year's budget is based on the t assumption that 10 percent of all pro- j perty taxes will be uncollected, said t finance officer Ralph Rice. The state average for uncollectible taxes is about 5 percent, he said. Several residents were vocal over the rate of uncollected taxes. One Grape Vine property owner whose permanent home is in Virginia in a similarly sized county compared the collection rate to her home town. "My father-in-law was tax collector (in Madison County, Virginia) and his tax collection rate was 99 percent," she said. The comment brought ap- i plause from the crowd. An earlier budget suggested Uwt-i the county cut one ambulance unit. Concerned residents began cir- < culating petitions. County finance of- ] ficer Ralph Rice changed the final 1 budget to include $372,613 for am- i bulance service, an amount county < Emergency Services Director Eddie i Fox said would be enough to continue service on the current 24-hour level. < County employees will all see an ] upgrade in pay level starting January 1, 1989. Although an increase, the commis ioner'i allocation still fell short of he school board's request of 1,762,676 The commissioners gave hem $1,424,600. Other budget items include ?9287,500 for the sheriff's depart ment. This is short of Sheriff Dedrick Brown's request of 1365,000 but could bring the departqjent back up to full staff. Brown an</ the commissioners were at odds eaqlier this year when they told him to liy off three deputies in order to keep jrom spending more money than tfye county had on hand. Brown ^jfstead laid off four dispatcher-Jailers and closed Madison County Jail. He later re opened the jail with a volunteer staff. ?1346,287 was allocated to operating expenses for the Madison County Landfill. 9241,200 was allocated for land and equipment. During the meeting, the commissioners also voted to hire another person to work it the landfill. ?9424,152 for day care. Hiis in cludes an increase in wages for Madison day care workers. ?9287,500 for a senior citizen center. ?94,359,894 for Medicaide (most of which ia provided by the feder?i government). After the budget was announced. Commissioner Reese Steen suggested several revisions, including outbacks in the 140,000 allocated for tax mapp ing. He argued that since most revaluation was complete, the figure could be cut by at least 18,000. Steen also felt $10,000 could be cut from the ambulance service by mak ing the service more efficient and still maintaing full service. He suggested a 114,000 cut in the landfill budget because he said he felt the hiring of an additional employee was un necessary. Steen asked that money be placed into economic development. An earlier budget had given $40,000 for that purpose but the revised budget gave no money for it. "Why did you take money out of economic development?" Steen ask ed Rice. "Because I told him to," said Com mission Chairman Bobby Capps. In the revised budget, economic development money was placed in a contingency fund, giving the commis sioners a more lenient spending category. Education Budget To Adjust For 8 Percent Increase i " 'V 'Mk ? . * v: si. M . .. _ ituf, t- . riff* lii By STEVE FERGUSON ~ Inlrriro Editor The Madison County Board of Education will have to trim $336,076 from its 1M8-M budget to meet what county commissioners have given them. The $1,424,600 is an 8 percent in crease over last year's total school board budget of $1,311,761. "The school board will have to look back to the line-item budget and make some adjustments," said School Superintendent Robert Ed wards. "We'll have to go back and revise." Edwards said the board's original budget had planned for a computer in every classroom. "Since we have to go back and revise, that may change," he said. Other increases built into this year's budget include a Student Infor mation Management System that keeps tracks of all student attendance and progress reports. A SIMS system is already in place in Madison High School and Marshall Primary, and one is planned for Mars Hill Elemen tary. Madison and Marshall are both hoping to upgrade their current SIMS equipment. $90,000 is allocated in the proposed ' " STEVE FERGUSON PHOTOS Commissioner Reese Steen reviews the proposal with Superintendent Robert Edwards. budget, half for equipment and half for computer hardware. 995,000 is proposed for the purchase of library books "Region 8 did a survey for us in 19M," said Edwards, "and recom mended that we upgrade our school libraries by adding books and getting rid of outdated reference books. The information in encyclopedias and other reference materials can be out dated in just a few year*." $50,000 slated for clerical salaries it due to many part-time clerical workers being converted to full-time salaried employees, Edwards said Other major expenses include a pro jected $115,000 for electricity anc $81,068 for fuel for facilities. In projected capital outlay needs Jthe board asked for $615,056 broker down as follows: ?9100,000 for roofing, sidewalks and ) erosion I *$20,000 for computers and typewriters ?1230,000 for repair to buildings - *11,000 for repair to primary grounds I *$284,056 for construction, additional rooms, and the primary school. The board was granted 1500,000 of > their capital outlay request. Weaverville Group Appeals Annexation Ruling By STEVE FERGUSON Interim Editor Continuing their right against the annexation of the Reems Creek Golf Club, a group of Weaverville residents have appealed a judge's ruling that allowed the move Attorney Harold Bennett filed the appeal Friday on the grounds that Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Lewis didn't follow state law when he refused to issue a restraining order to stop annexation of 81 acres planned for the develop ment of 189 homes. State law man dates that all of a subdivision must be annexed, not just part. Reems Creek Golf Club includes 250 acres Bennett is optimistic about the ap^ peal. "I think our chances are good," he said. "The law clearly says you can't annex part of a subdivision. You have to take it aU In." Lewis' decision was based on another portion of North Carolina law which prohibits towns from annexing more than 10 percent of its existing municipal acreage. "There is no evidence in the record that Kenmure had some sinister motive in petition ing for annexaton of only the phase one portion of the project," he said. "To the contrary, the indication is that but for the 10 percent limitation ... Kenmure would put the whole 250 acres in the town of Weaverville." Joe Joyner, chairman of Concerned Citizens of Weaverville, the group op posing annexation, said he felt the resort would be a detriment to the town. "We never were opposed to a golf course, housing development, or anything else up there. We just don't want it to be part of the town," Joyner said. The resort-priced lots and golf prices would be out of the price range of most residents, he said. "There would never be any reason for anyone in Weaverville to go up there." Drought Conference Scheduled Governor Jim Martin has announc ed a Drought Management Con ference will be held June 30 in Aaheville in reaponae to increasingly dry conditions In western North Kepresntatives of local govern menu, water system operators, and state water officials will meat at the Ramada Inn Wert in Aaheville from I a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30 Several reservoirs la the western Hinties art at lower levels than dar ing the KM drought and some com Pratical water conservation step* will be discussed, and cooperation between state and federal water spnclas will be strswsd. The con ference is expected to result in ocn tigeocy plans for state and federal assistance should the drought Tbe conference is being organised ?sources in tbe and Community Water Low-Cost Mortgages Available ? Low and moderate-income Home buyers can apply immediately for 8.75 perccent mortgage loans a* a . result of a $59 billion bond sale authorized by tlte North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA). ("he 30-year fixed rate loans are available to approximately 1,07* first-time home buyart on i first come, first -served basis! Proapective borrowers with a sates < onira< t on a ntw or existing house v . , or apply for a tx w . n< ot ' e and income Units are the aame as the I 1.7$ percent mortgage requirements. | ? INiattl -ii il To qualify. - ?we - neeci a r<* Steen also asked Superintendent Robert Edwards to appear before the board to explain increases in budget requests. "I want to increase the education budget by a real 10 percent over last year," Steen said. The 'real' 10 percent, he explained, was subtracting 186,906 in money that Madison County received this year from North Carolina that it had to fund on its own last year. Steen sug gested that any difference be placed into the capital outlay fund for school construction. Edwards disagreed with the 10 per cent estimation. "With a 4.5 percent teacher salary increase, that's only a 5.5 percent in crease in total budget," he said. "Add inflation to that and you're virtually standing still." Steen also asked Edwards about the cost of two middle schools, a figure which Edwards estimated at $4.5 million each excluding the cost of purchasing the land, sewer and water costs. "We've already built one school on an island," Steen said. "I don't want anyone to My to me 'you didn't ask the right questions.' " After Edwarda was dismissed Steen submitted his proposed budget changes. "We're breaking the backs of the taxpayers and we're still using good ol' boys' ways,'' Steen said. Commissioners Bobby Capps and John Hensley voted against the changes and the budget was approv ed 2-1. *4 lot of people have told me they'd love to tell their property at ivhat it'* valued at.' ? Irene Lee Betides the budget vote, the com missioners gave John Morlin sport swear manufacturing company, who will be moving into the Madison County Industrial Park, one year to have 30 employees. That was a change from the original agreement of 2 years. The commissioners also agreed to allow county attorney Larry Leake to provide legal services for the Madison- Yancey child support en forcement agency. Bill Sears Chosen As Assistant Superintendent By STEVtf FERGUSON Intetpm Editor Madison County's first assistant superintendent of schools was hired Monday. Bill Sears, a teacher at Mars Hill College in the education department, was chosen by the school board to assist current superintendent Robert Edwards. Sears, however, was not Edwards' first choice. Of five applicants, Sears was number five on the list of Edwards' recommendations. His top choice for the post was Dr. Owen Fish, Title I director for Madison County. No motion was made by the board following Ed wards' recommendation, so Fish could not be considered. Next, Edwards recommended Hot Springs principal J.C. Wallin. Again, no motion followed the recommenda tion and Wallin could not be con sidered for the post. When Dr. Bruce Phillips, assistant principal at Madison High school, was nominated by Edwards, board member Gerald Young made a mo tion for the recommendation. There was no second, therefore Phillips could not be considered. Next, Edwards suggested Tom Jones, psychologist for Madison County, for the position. Again, no motion was made and Jones could not ? be considered. After Edwards recommended Sears, board member Mike Jenkins made the motion to accept him Board member Jewell Church seconded the motion, and Sears was approved 5-0. In other hiring, the board chose Terry Price to fill the position of finance officer. Pam English Gregg, a former hourly employee, was chosen to be employed as a full-time salaried employee. Mars Hill Elementary: Catherine Denton, J.D. Thomas and Buster Shelton were hired as custodians. Doris Dickeraon was hired as a secretary. Madison High School: Michael Nor ton, Tommy Rice and Danny Frisbee were hired as custodians. Marshall Primary: Bob Boyd was hired as custodian. Walnut School : Jimmy Massey was hired as custodian. Laurel School: Terry Cook was hired as custodian. Het Springs School: Clyde Webb was hired as custodian for July and August. Spring Creek School: Michael Hold was hired as custodian. Patsy Buckner was hired as bus driver far summer school. The next scheduled board meeting is July I.
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 30, 1988, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75