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Page 4A The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.net County Commissioners approve $115M budget ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com CLEVELAND COUNTY — By vote of 4-1 Cleveland County Commission- ers June 18 approved the $115,419,068 county budget for fiscal year 2013-14, an increase of $6.3 million from last year’s budget of $109,077,688. Increases in fuel and insurance costs and cost of living raises for the first time in five years to the county’s 750 full time employees impacted the budget but the newly adopted budget does not include property tax increases for the 13th year, said Chairman Ron- nie Hawkins. “I am very proud that we held the tax rate at 57 cents per $100 valuation and are able to give raises to employ- ees,” Hawkins said. A total of approxi- mately $20 million is in the budget for salaries, insurance and benefits for the 900 full time/part time employees and represents a big chunk of the budget pie. The newly adopted budget includes an increase in the county’s volunteer fire service district tax from 3 cents to 5 cents. Commissioner Hawkins said the fire district tax does not impact the budget. “Asking our families to go higher on taxes and fees goes against my promises that put me in office. We still have people out of work in the county and the budget is asking more than peo- ple can afford,” said commissioner Jason Falls who cast the ’no’ vote. Fire department representatives from Oak Grove, Waco, and Grove vol- unteer departments spoke during the public hearing in favor of the fire tax increase to fund their operations for equipment and training of volunteers which they say are badly needed. The new budget includes a 2% cost of living increase to county employees who haven’t had a pay adjustment since 2008; a 6.14% increase in Social Serv- ices costs by $558,000 with overall ap- propriation of $7.8 million for county mandated programs and services; in- crease in the law enforcement and de- tention center operations budget by $172,000; and an increase of $109,573 to $1,590,573 in current expenditures to Cleveland Community College. The new budget addresses several capital projects — a Farmers Market with the City of Shelby to create a new Farmer’s Market in uptown Shelby with $50,000 included in the budget for this purpose; a joint venture with the City of Shelby to develop an industrial park west of Shelby at Foothills Com- merce Center; ‘the historic courthouse renovation with the Earl Scruggs Cen- ter scheduled for completion by end of 2013; and assisting with the renovation of the Shelby High school baseball sta- dium for American Legion baseball. The budget appropriates $161,000 to the Cleveland County Economic De- velopment Partnership to be used in the recruitment of new businesses as well as existing industry expansions and al- locates $110,000 for travel and tourism with the majority of funding coming from the local occupancy tax. Annual household landfill fees go up from $50 to $62 and the increase in tipping fees of $4.65 per ton will in- crease fees charged to municipalities. Kings Mountain residents will pay 50 cents more each month in sanitation fees. The per-pupil funding for the Cleve- land County School System will remain the same at $1,763.38. The current ex- pense allocation -was reduced by $558,643 due to the projected decrease in the number of students. The county allocation in the budget totals $27,249,570. In his budget message, Interim County Manager David Dear said that the county has been facing challenging economic conditions over the past sev- eral years that have negatively affected county revenues. “Because of the com- missioner’s strong leadership and sound fiscal management, Cleveland County has been able to present a bal- anced budget with no tax increase and no reduction in county funded serv- ices.” City of KM utility customers to see 7.5% increase in water, sewer ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com KINGS MOUNTAIN — City utility customers will pay 7.5% more for water and sewer beginning July 1. The typical water-sewer customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water per month will see an increase of $3.49 per month or 12 cents a day. Kings Mountain City Council unan- imously adopted the $35.2 million - budget June 18 after a public hearing at which no citizen voiced opinions. City councilman Tommy Hawkins took the occasion to thank the city staff for their work on the budget after the presentation by city manager Marilyn Sellers. The new water-sewer rate over the next three years will help the city pay for water system improvements, for which the city is borrowing $33,840,600 from the state’s revolving fund with 20-year pay back with no in- terest. The existing, combined water- sewer rate for an inside-city residential customer with a %-inch water line meter using 5,000 gallons of service per month is $46.18. The new rate July 1 will be $49.67. The only other increase July 1 is a 50-cent increase in sanitation fees due to a 15% tipping fee assessed by the county for garbage taken to the Jand- fill. There is no property tax increase. The 40 cents per $100 valuation is un- changed since 2006. ‘ There is no electric base rate in- crease and no natural gas base rate in- crease. Three new positions are funded in the budget — one new employee to as- sist the head of the Department of In- ‘formation Technology and two part timers in the fire department will be- come full time employees. There are no cost of living increases to the 200 employees of the city who received a 2% increase in pay last year. Fringe benefits, including insurance, are included in the budget. Commending the mayor and coun- cil, Sellers said, “You have made tough decisions and I appreciate your support and the support of department heads. We have a great team — a visionary team — and this is a realistic budget.” Wednesday, June 26, 2013 County, cities review 2013-14 budgets Grover residents to see 27% increase in water, sewer rates July 1 ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald @gmail.com GROVER - Residents of Grover will see their water and sewer rates rise 27% July 1 which means that a typical user of water. and sewer (2,000 gallons) will see a total bill of $49.37, including $15.29 for water, $22. 86 for sewer and $11.22 for trash service, an extra dollar fee from last year. For residents using 5,000 gallons water and sewer and utilizing trash service the bill will total $86.27. “This will be a hardship for residents,” said town com- missioner Bill Willis. Other board members agreed. The dilemma town fathers faced at Monday night’s pub- lic hearing on the $651,765 budget for 2013-14 was whether to upgrade infrastruc- ture and/or lose funds spent the past year to transition the current wastewater treatment plant to the wastewater treat- ment plant formerly owned and operated by Grover In- dustries. Last year, Grover Indus- tries and the Harry family do- nated the Grover Industries Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Town of Grover in an effort to help the town con- tinue to meet citizens’ current needs as well as future needs. The plant will in effect triple the towns’ capacity to process wastewater, Mayor J. D. Led- ford said during the public hearing at which no citizens were present to give input. Ledford said that in order to make the transition and up- grades, additional costs are in- volved. To upgrade the Linden Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, formerly op- erated by Grover Industries, as well as the aging lift sta- tions, the cost will total $2 million dollars. To help offset those costs the town is apply- ing for several grants as well as a 2% interest loan. “In today’s economy I know this is not what you would like to see but we are at a unique time in Grover’s his- tory where something has to be done,” the mayor wrote Grover residents. If we con- tinue to wait, the cost of build- ing materials and the replacement of aging equip-_ ment will only continue to rise and we are still not guaranteed to receive any other loans or grants in the future. We have looked at all of our options and the majority of Council feels like this will be the best option for Grover’s future.” The mayor said the water/sewer raise reflects a July 1 raise by the town’s water supplier, the City of Kings Mountain, of 7 % per- cent and the 27% hike will be in effect for at least the next three years to help pay for the improvements. In a related action the board continued its contract with W.K. Dickson Company, the Charlotte engineering company working with the board on sewer infrastructure. The good news that came from the meeting was that Grover’s property tax rate of 39 cents per $100 valuation is unchanged. The $651,765 budgets i in- cludes $276,505 for the gen- eral fund, $2600 for the cemetery fund, $22,150 for Powell Bill fund, and $350,510 for water and sewer which represents the big chunk of the budget pie. . No cost of living adjust- ment is included for the town’s eight employees. THE SHEPHERD’S TABLE sponsors a free meal every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 220 North Watterson St., in Kings Moun- tain. Delivery is available if you are unable to pick up the meal and they also offer dine in. The volunteers who prepare and serve the meals are members of the church and donations cover the cost of the meals. For more information on the “Shepherd’s Table” food ministry, you can contact Sister Eloise Jenkins at 704-739- 6705. At left: Volunteers at Mt. Zion Baptist Church are busy serv- y ing up lunch for the “Shepherd’s Table” food ministry. Vol- unteers are (L — R) Rodney Jordan, Betty Pressley, Fae Jordan, Eloise Jenkins, Joann Holland and Charlene Sim- mons. photo by BETH BROCK fl 45 ENC Aa CHEROKEE GRILL MUSIC, MUSKETS & FIRE WORKS Beginning at 5pm - Walking Track Park 704.734.0333 » www.CityofKM.com. SPONSORED BY Gaston IN Inc. Historic INGS MOUNTAIN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Se. m Ty Kings Motta Herald Published every Wednesday Periodicals postage at Kings Mountain, NC 28086 USPS 931-040 by Gemini Newspapers, Inc. Postmaster, send address changes to: P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Phone (704) 739-7496 » Fax (704) 739-0611 Office: 700 East Gold Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086. E-mail: kathy.kmherald @ gmail.com Wendy Isbell - Publisher wendy.kmherald@gmail.com Lib Stewart - Managing Editor lib.kmherald @ gmail.com Gary Stewart - Sports Editor Beth Brock - Staff Writer Dave Blanton - Staff Writer Rick Hord - Sales Manager Lisa Zyble - General Operations Manager Graphics & Composing Wayne Conner - Business Manager Kathy Reynolds - Circulation/Classified 3 Gaston & Cleveland County Other NC Counties Outside NC Mail Subscription Rates Payable in Advance. All Prices include 6.75% NC State Sales Tax. © 2013 Gemini Newspapers, Inc.. 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The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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June 26, 2013, edition 1
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