Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / May 26, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, 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
I bunset tJ( BY DOUG RUTTER Sunset Beach residents will most likely start paying more for water this summer, just when usage is reaching its peak. According to a tentative budget discussed this week during a special meeting, town council has proposed an 11.5 percent increase in water rates and approximately a six percent increase in the minimum monthly water charge for the coming fiscal year. Currently, the town charges $8 for the first 3,000 gallons and $1.55 for each $1,000 gallons over that. The proposal agreed upon Monday would increase the minimum monthly charge to $8.50 and the water rate per $1,000 gallons to $1.75. Meanwhile, the town tax rate may or may not change in the coming fiscal year, according to discussion during the two budget workshops the town has held this month. At least one more session will be held before town council adopts the budget. Council members said Monday the higher water rates are needed to offset the county's 27 percent wholesale water rate increase last year. The town has also tentatively budgeted $25,000 in the next fiscal year to upgrade the old water system at Sea Trail. In another area relating to the water fund, council members tentatively agreed to double the utility (deposit for renters while maintaining existing deposit costs for homeowners. Utility deposits for persons who enter into long-term rental agreements will increase from $25 to $50, while homeowners will still pay $16. Town Administrator Linda Fluegel requested the increase because she said the town has lost money from renters who leave town without paying their water bill. "We've had this problem with renters from day one," she added. "It's something that happens more and more." According to the tentative budget, the town expects to spend about $470,000 next fiscal year. This money will come from the estimated $330,000 in revenues and $140,000 unappropriated this year. Based on the tax rate of 16.7 cents per $100 of valuation, an estimated ( property valuation next fiscal year of , about $148 million, and a 99.75 percent collection rate, the town anticipates tax revenues of approximately $247,000. During Monday's meeting, council trimmed about $89,000 from the proposed expenditures to balance the budget. The original list of expenditures, compiled by town finance officer Minnie Hunt, totaled $546,954. Among the items cut from the proposed budget were $25,000 for drainage. The town will keep $20,000 in next year's budget to fund drainage projects along North Shore Drive at 35th and 38th streets and also on Canal Drive. However, installation of drainage systems where North Shore Drive intersects 36th and 37th streets will be postponed at least a year under the proposed budget. The cost of those projects is estimated at $24,000. The town board also cut in half the Accommc Tax To Be Sunset Beach Town Council t legislation which would allow the to modations tax. With member Kathy Hill absei day to authorize the town attorney that the General Assembly will pai town to collect the room tax. The accommodations tax is a t hotel rooms or homes. It is already Beach as an additional source of through the property owner or resi Although the proposed tax woul next year, board members argued a the monies would be spent. Councilman Ed Gore said an should be reinvested in areas re] necessarily areas which benefit tov Sunset Beach Mayor Mason Ba meeting urged council members to impact fee to increase revenues, li: Isle Beach accommodations tax f could be spent for almost anything "There are some ways wc can the property owners around here." will not be able to fund future budge think we have to go with one or the tax would be the fastest." Councilwoman Mary Katherine our taxes, we get nothing from thei Barber also said Monday that told him he could have the request Assembly during the upcoming she plan this week. Holden Beach Commissioners the possibility of levying an accomi I I each I own proposed allocation for bulkheading the ends of canals and the ends of canal streets. The original draft of the budget allocated $25,000 for bulkheading, but council decided to spread the project over two years. Other items slashed from the proposed budget this week included $35,000 for sidewalks, $7,000 to convert an office clerk from part- to fulltime status, $6,000 for a tractor and $3,600 to bring a sanitarian position to full-time. Council members agreed that sidewalks would be a great improvement to the town and mentioned the possibility of using some revenues left over at the end of next fiscal year to start the project One item which remained in the budget this week, $35,000 for beach access, was strongly opposed by two board members and may be the topic of more debate before the final budget is adopted. Councilmen Ed Gore and A1 Odom voiced strong opposition to appropriating $30,000 to match a state beach access grant the town applied for earlier this year. Both opposed the construction of boardwalks over the dimes as a means of providing access. Gore recommended that the town use natural clay or marl to cross the dunes, adding that it would protect the dunes better than a wooden walkway and would be less expensive. "To go ahead and build a structure over dunes is a waste of money," he saia. neiemng 10 an esumatea cost of $17,000 for a boardwalk to the Council Adopts Bond Resolution Following a public hearing Monday, Sunset Beach Town Council took the next step required to take advantage of a bond refunding offer from the Farmers Home Administration. Council members adopted a resolution providing for the issuance of bonds and their resale privately to finance the cost of refunding $449,000 in water system bonds now held by Farmers Home Administration. To help cut the federal deficit, FmHA is offering many of its customers a chance to buy back the bonds at substantial discounts and resell them. For some towns, acDis nave been retired early. Sunset Beach Town Administrator Linda Fluegel said United Carolina Bank offered the ucSt ucal fur iiie tuwii On uiiTchase of the bonds?a 10-ykar loan with a fixed interest rata^of 10.75 percent. She said she contacted all the local banks but wasn't offered a fixed interest rate any lower. "We're hoping to do better but that ain't bad," she said. Town council still hasn't determined from which bank it will borrow the money, but it hopes to save about >193,000 in principal and another >200,000 in interest by borrowing money and paying off its water bond prematurely while the discount is offered. Delations Pursued his week decided to request state wn to collect a three-percent accomlt, council voted unanimously Monto pursue the matter with the hope ss legislation this year allowing the ax collected from tourists who rent used at Ocean Isle Beach and Ixing revenue, one that does not come dent. d probably not be implemented until it length earlier this week about how y funds collected through the tax ating directly to tourism and not vn residents. irber, however, who throughout the consider an accommodations tax or sted appropriations from the Ocean und and indicated that the money which improves the town, generate revenues without hurting 1 said Barhpr nddina that thn tnuin , talHk VIIV WIT II ts without new sources of income. "I other. I think this accommodations Griffith added, "In effect, as far as n (tourists)." Town Attorney Mike Isenberg had t for legislation before the General ?rt session if the town approved the have said they also plan to explore modations tax. \ Council Pro beach, he added, "That makes no sense at all." Sunset Beach Mayor Mason Barber, however, said the wooden ramps would provide a service to handicapped persons wanting to get rw~n/~v luilwi TU nvcrlnu J i Mitiwwjr/ I Subject To Early l| Was Irr'fiular Bath Towels. Conon Doll/ in .IC'.Aito/l cnl.He I ' . '''r ^^ ^^ ll wm SBC pkg. nig. $1.83 ; life Cloth. 12x18" in. rr. jg^^izo 14 count \Vhii?> Vr V^m \\& ?~~ ' * i 4 lor 99= 3 DMC Embroidery Floss tor all types ol stitcbery Choose from BE a wide range ot colors IKmtricin Flag Kit with 6tt pole, eagle and mounting bracket. I 10 ReE. S12.99 "DELUXE" Flag Kit I $3997 Rec. SS9.99 I Sunbrella Fashion Sunglasses. I Metai frames mirror lenses ^1 I $Q99 V Values to S8 I i!: _l mssifli ran. ib-m 3speed flVY. I Ga'aiy oscillating Ian V \jjr CAAQQ "'S I \ Reg. $39.99 IZ&Urt I *lTTZ313BIQ Main Street, Shallot poses incr out to the strand. Council came to no real agreement on the matter during this week's meeting. Another item included in the proposed budget is a five percent acrossthe-board pay raise for town m M.ay 26 thru Monde Sell Out?Limited Quantities 1 Towel >i" .... d Towel w-t^b 1" h Cloth I]T /99? ^ I ^V',^^2.' Irregular p0 '^S^gf Percale g Packaged Sheet Sets, n Size *10" Queen Size *19" Size *17" King Size *21" ftj asscrioa COLO'S 15-1 3 Bums nciuflec * 5087 w!g< eg. $8.59 R"8, 72 Aunt Lydla's Rug Yarn. 100S s?e?ns *n assorted colors Q Stinger Insec 15 *wat! e,ec,fon? unit TfTiriiffV can cover an area up 1P22* Reg. $29.! LL BIKES - 25% Men's, Womei ?v* SAND KEY WEB BEACH CHAIC \ \A J\ Folding, muiti rambovv. white jUWiJ, plastic arms. Reg. $10.99 M ^"5" \ > I iflWm na te, 754-4846 W an THE BRUNSWICK BEACO iuse In Walt employees, at a cost of $5,600. Ixirry Crim, who serves as town maintenance supervisor and building inspector, would also receive a percent merit bonus. Town council has also proposed !y/ Mriy 30 ^ On Some Items Oscillating Fan. Galaxy "Vi d fan in almond color r< rown A great sole price! '.yjMj; $2297 ^ R(|. 929.99 W PC Flower IPriyJin r?r-p m ? LLfe ?; ' , I ... ^ ly Fiberfill. 12-oz bag of *.* )T,I< ly-Fif* Super resilient. nor> ereenic. washable. Will not M I C neh. tl POI $122n.. Slfifi Hi-Dri Piptr T?i I n#g. 5K00 Jumborotl.de prints. rrniwrrn muv/m ?<Rng?jK/ name ooroei Fencing. 30'j-in fleur de lis style 01 SBgk-- 32"j-in Cape Co<) picket lence with hinge-lock couplers "ipF ' 64c f Rag. 89' Kodoi polyester 60-yard V??" iia^--1 ^ 4 Kodacolor VR 200 110 Film 24 Exposures Kodacolor VR 100 135 Film 37 24 color pictures Kodak Disc Film 30 Exposures in handy 2-pack i OFF Reg. Price Vs or Kids' SAND KEY F< BEACH CI IP^t^ s99 110 PARKING k'{~^ N, Thursday, May 26, 1988?Page 3-A 3r Rates budgeting $11,600 for a new police car and $75,000 for buildings, which would pay for the renovation of town hall and the purchase of a new maintenance shop. (See related story this issue.) w >1,ester g|Ac Bushes yy fcg** -fei H Sir'W- ' I 551 * ^/ .;l; Floa.r St.mi Choice of lovely I styles ond colors. H All Stem Flowers 20% OFF Reg. Price g ijj J fSI aSSS>$ I I Act It Microwave Popcorn. Hey ffi| I or butter flavored 2 89c I W&l 3=4=2=1 ?KBl 52-87 I Shatterproof plastic Choice MB $2.97 Of CO'Of S $4.77 8 3LDING ' B HAIR ck Charcoal Smoker. Sunbeam 9 Patiomaster 368-so in. chrome HI J 'egs 2 position grid 99 $3200 1 I98fl THt BRUNSWICK fltACONj - y ot Bfl
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 26, 1988, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75