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PTI library
P. 0. Box 135
Grantsboro, N. C. 28529
The Pamlico News
15* Per Copy
(USPS 782-460)
VoL 14, No. 8
Serving Pamlico County And Richland Township
Thursday, February 26,1981
If Passed By Congress
Reagan’s Budget Proposals Will Be
Felt In The Pamlico Area
President Reagan has proposed many cuts to the budget
of the Unitdd States - “getting rid of the waste” he calls it.
But what is this going to mean to the residents of Pamlico
County and Richland Township?
The Pamlico News has talked with several county
agencies who may be affected.
The proposals still have ta.pass thru Congress and there
may and probably will be changes made by them. The state
may decide to take over voids left by budget cuts. No one
really knows for certain yet.
DSS
The Department of Social Services will probably be
seeing several changes. Although it is difficult to determine
at the present time exactly what the changes will be, Jim
Baluss, Director of the Pamlico County Department of
Social Services (DSS), expects the largest cuts to be in the
Medicaid program. Baluss said that he didn’t believe that
any of the changes could be implemented before October of
1982.
The Medicaid program provides medical services to
those meeting certain criteria - aged, disabled, blind, etc. -
and unable to afford medical services. Baluss explained
that the State of North Carolina will receive 100 million
dollars less for the next funding year from the federal
govemmentand only a S percent increase the next. Medical
costs grow ajt a rate of about 20 percent per year. Either the
state and counties make up the 100 million dollars or ser
vices will b$ cut. Baluss said that he felt it was safe to say
that the fuqjjs would not be made up by the state. He added
that the cutaare likely to be in the non-medical emergency
outpatient areas of medical services such as buying
eyeglasses or dentures and chiropractic and podiatrist
services. “In addition,” said Baluss, “we will probably
have to cut out or reduce service in a category known as
“medically needy”. This category includes those people
who are disabled for a period of at least 6 months, own less
than $1000 of property and have an income at the poverty
level.
The Pamlico County DSS’s 1980-81 fiscal year Medicaid
budget is $$18,604 - $613,726 in federal money, $228,246 in
state money and $76,632 in county money. The great
majority of this money, explained Baluss, goes to hospital
inpatient services, nursing homes and rest homes and to the
state mental retardation center. Smaller portions go to the
local health department, pharmacies, local doctors and the
mental health clinic. So, should the Medicaid program
funding be decreased, area programs and businesses may
feel some effect. Commented Baluss, “What is an expense
for us shows up as revenue for someone else. ”
Changes may also occur in the Aid to Families with
Dependent Children program (AFDC). Part of Reagan’s
proposal, said Baluss, was to make stepparents financially
responsible for their stepchildren. At the present time, a
stepparent’s income is not used in determining how much
aid is received. This would save Pamlico County DSS
$12,000-315,000 per year in recipient payments. Currently
166 families receive AFDC in Pamlico County and Baluss
said that this number remains fairly static from year to
year.
The Food Stamp Program will also, in all probability, be
another of the programs that is reorganized under the
Reagan Economic Recovery Plan. About 625 families are
presently receiving food stamps in Pamlico County. Said
Baluss, “I look for very significant cuts in the Food Stamp
Program.” £
^The changes, continued Baluss, will probably be in in
■ting higher eligibility requirements.
Kss said that he has heard a lot about eliminating
waste in the food stamp program but, under the present
guidelines which he has to follow, someone would have to
show him where the waste was. He added that DSS supports
some of the changes proposed. For example, he said, if a
mother comes to the DSS requesting food stamps saying
that since her son (who lives with her and earns $1000 per
month) does not contribute to her support or to the
household she needs the assistance, under the definition of a
household (a person or persons who live as an economic
unit and purchase and prepare their food together) she is
eligible.
Baluss said that no cuts were expected in Medicaid for the
aged, handicapped and recipients of Supplemental Security
Income or AFDC.
Food Stamp recipients in Pamlico County receive the
equivalent of a total of $51,000 per month.
PAMLICO COUNTY
Should the CETA program be entirely abolished, Pamlico
County will lose nine CETA-funded positions; this year
$93,280 was budgeted for these nine positions (a small
portion of that is for administration). Five of the CETA
slots are with the county-wide clean-up truck, one with
Forestry, one with the Recreation Department and two with
the schools.
The county, said County Manager Bill Rice, will not be
able to “Pick-up” these positions.
The only other federal funds which the county receives
directly are Revenue Sharing funds and Rice said that he
had understood that these would not be affected.
Indirectly, however, the county’s revenues may be af
fected by loss of revenue from sales tax and building per
The Pamlico County Science Club Fair was held on
February 17. Winners for science projects are as follows:
Left to right - Mack Rice and Keith Poole, Earth Science;
Robbie Whorton, Life Science; Rhonda Willis,
Technological Science; Michelle Harris and Joy Connett,
6th grade; Abbott Dees and Tina Fabrizio, Earth Science;
Kathy Truitt, Penny Hill, and Dee Yates, Life Science;
Victoria Spain, Barry Williams, and Ronnie York, Physical
Science. Absent were Hubert Back and Sheri Roberts.
Gerald Saunders, Principal, Congratulates the winners.
mite. The county expects to collect $145,000 in sales tax this
fiscal year - a drop from the $162,000 collected last year.
Building permits are running about the same as last year.
But, said Rice, should Farmers Home Administration loans
be affected, the county could lose building permit revenues
since less families would be able to build a home.
FmHA& CROPS
Lee Whorton of the ASCS office said that he expected the
Farmers Home Administration program to be “hit hard”.
The program provides low interest loans which hhave
enabled several hundred Pamlico County residents to
purchase or build a home in the past few years.
Loans for rural water and sewer systems will probably
also be affected.
Whorton said that his office did not expect any effect on
the tobacco programs except that price supports would not
be increased. There probably will not be any price support
increases for corn, soybeans or wheat, either, he said.
ELECTRIC RATES MAY RISE
Loan programs for rural utility companies may also feel
the pinch. Louise Muse of Tideland EMC in Grantsboro said
that should the loan programs, begun in 1935, be cut then
Tideland would have to go into the open market where in
terest rates would be higher. If the utility company has to
pay higher interest on loans for new construction, then the
electric rates charged to customers will have to go up. “It
will hurt us,” she said.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Pamlico County Health Department received
$9,122.80 in federal monies for the current fiscal year.
$6,027.30 was earmarked for the Maternal and Child Health
programs with the remaining $3,095.50 supporting the
general health programs. It has not yet been determined if
there will be cuts in this aid or how much they would be.
SCHOOLS
The school system may also be affected by the proposed
changes. The school lunch program, funds for disad
vantaged students and a recently begun migrant program
may be affected.
(Cont’d on Page Seven)
Free & Reduced
Eligibilty For School Meals Changed
For Free Meals
Family Per Per
Size Year Month
1 $5,700 475
2 $7,220 602
3 $8,750 729
4 $10,270 856
5 $11,800 983
6 $13,320 1,110
7 $14,850 1,238
8 $16,370 1,364
Per
Week
110
139
168
198
227
256
286
315
For Kefuced Price Meals
Per Per Per
Year Month Week
$8,350 696 161
$10,730 894 206
$13,110 1,093 252
$15,490 1,291 296
$17,870 1,489 344
$20,250 1,688 389’
$22,620 1,885 435
$25,000 2,083 481
Growers’ Referendum Scheduled
Planning Com Referendum....Members of the Board of
Director* of the Corn Growers Association of North
Carolina met receaMiy ia Raleigh to make piano for the
March 3 N. C. Cora Referendam. Corn growers will be
voting on an assessment to provide continued famUag for
research, edacatlon and market development. Foot
members pictured from left above are: Jack Williams of
Falsest, Duplin Coaaty; Durwood Laaghinghouse of Pan
to^ Baautort Cowrty; William V. Griffin of PHocksville.
Jones Count;; and Pat McCMter of Vandemere. Pamlico
County. Wfflk 's and McCotter are newly elected board
members, Utile Laughiaghonse is a holdover member on
bosSd. Oriffla is Immediate past preoldeat of the
hd a current membar of the beard.
PI
A Corn Crower’s Referendum has been scheduled for
Tuesday, March 3,1981. The purpose of this referendum is
to “authorize initiation of collection of V4 cent per bushel of
corn marketed to be used in initiating or improving
programs in marketing, production, research, education,
and general welfare of corn in North Carolina by the Corn
Growers Association of North Carolina, Incorporated."
This Authorisation is for a (6) six year period beginning
crop year 1981.
Ballot boxes have been set up in the following locations in
Pamlico County for the convenience of all Corn Growers in
the county:
Agricultural Extension Office - Bayboro
The Village Restaurant - Oriental
Charlie’s Cafe - Bayboro
The Hurricane Restaurant - Stonewall
New Bern Oil Mill - Grantsboro
Pamlico Chemical Company - Alliance
Belangia’s Clover Farm - Arapahoe
Pinedale Food Mart -> Reelsboro
Huntings’ Repair Shop - Olympia
* MGM Clover Farm - Vandemere
Lionel Willis Grocery - kennel’s Beach
Sally’s Marina - Hobucken
Earl Sadler’s Store - Lowland
Should you have questions concerning the referendum,
please call the Pamlico County Extension Office at 745-4121.
Pamlico County Board of
Education announced
recently that, die to the
passage of Public Law 96-499,
the family size and income
eligibility criteria for free
and reduced price meals for
children served under the
National School Lunch,
School Breakfast, and-or
Special Milk Programs have
changed for the remainder of
the school year.
Children from families
whose income is at or below
the levels shown are eligible
for free or reduced price
meals. However, the four
special hardship conditions
(unusually high medical
expenses, shelter costs in
excess of 30 percent of in
come, special education
expenses due to the mental or
physical condition of a child,
and disaster or casualty
losses) have been eliminated.
A standard deduction for
each household has been
incorporated into the income
scale instead.
The applications which are
currently on file are being
reevaluated to determine
whether children are eligible
for free benefits, for reduced
price meals, or for paid
meals under the new criteria.
Families of children whose
benefits are reduced or
terminated will receive
written notice of the change
at least 10 days before the
effective date of the change.
Families who wish to
submit a new application
may obtain an application
form from each school’s
office. The information
provided on the application is
confidential and will be used
Coming Meetings
ife' • ■ i
Oriental Town Board, March 3, 7 pm
Stonewall Town Board, March 2, 7:30 pm
Arapahoe Town Board, March 5, 7:30 pm
Vandemere Town Board, March 2, 7 pm
Bayboro Town Board, March 3, 7:30 pm
Mesic Town Board, March 5, 7 pm
Aurora Town Board, March 2, 7:30 pm
Beaufort County Commissioners, March2, 9 am,
Courthouse, Washington
Pamlico County Commissioners, March 2, 10 am,
Courthouse, Bayboro
Pamlico County Board Of Education, March 2,
7:30 pm, Board of Education Building, Bayboro
Pamlico County Board of Health, March 4,7:30 pm,
H—nh Department (tentative date)
only for the purpose of
determining eligibility. A
simple statement of income
and family size is required,
plus a signed certification by
an adult household member
that the information provided
is correct.
(Cont’d on Page Seven)
Grants boro - SilverhillArea
New Landfill
Site In Limbo
The proposed Silverhill landfill for Pamlico County may
be in jeopardy of being granted state approval. The
countywide landfill, located in Reelsboro, will be filled up
sometime this summer and so the county has been sear
ching for another location.
Last year, the county proposed locating the landfill in.
Arapahoe but due to Arapahoe citizen static, the county
commissioners decided to try to find another location. The
commissioners decided on some Texasgulf owned land in
Silverhill for the next countywide landfill, contingent on
state approval.
The state has approved the Arapahoe site and the county
may have to fall back on this site if the state will not ap
prove the Silverhill site.
Gordon Layton, environmental engineer with the state
solid waste department, told The Pamlico News yesterday
in a telephone interview that the Silverhill site was still
h«ing evaluated. Said Layton, “We (the department)
haven’t made a formal or informal decision (on the site)
yet.” “I would expect,” said Layton, “the decision to be
made by next month.”
The law requires that a landfill be operated to provide
reasonable protection to health and the environment. It is
the state’s job to determine what criteria are involved.
According to Layton, the best soil far treatment of landfill
by-products is a landfill with a clay bottom and a clay top.
The ideal, Layton said, is to find on-site day. He conceded,
however, that fids type of soil environment is difficult to
find in coastal counties.
(Cont’d on Page Seven)