2008

City passes 2008-09 budget with no changes

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline City-passes-2008-09-budget-with-no-changes-Wilson Daily Times June 20, 2008 Local News

The Wilson City Council unanimously passed its 2008-09 fiscal year budget Thursday with little opposition from the public. "I've been through this budget trying to find different ways to cut money out of the budget," said Councilman Donald Evans. "In the city of Wilson, we have to maintain a certain level of service and any time we start talking about cutting money out of the budget, we have to start cutting services. I've been through it and I can't find anywhere we can cut the budget." The $272.2 million budget keeps the property tax rate at its current 51.5 cents per $100 valuation level, in spite of this year's countywide revaluation, which city leaders said only provided enough new money to continue city services at current levels without having to dip into city reserves. Water, sewer and electric rates will increase by 5 percent, and the city sanitation fee, including garbage pickup, jumps 50 cents to $14 per month. The only person to speak during the budget public hearing was Robert James. James said he thought that the 301 Highway Advisory Committee should receive more money to help revitalization efforts along the U.S. 301 corridor. He also thought it was unfair for the city to commit to more than $1 million to future Little League baseball fields at the Burt Gillette Athletic Complex. James also asked if the council would consider allowing electric bills to be sent out once every three months so poor residents can avoid losing their power if they are delinquent on their payments. "I know we're all hollering about the electric bill," James said. "It's hot outside. Poor people aren't going to be able to have no heat or electric fans because we can't pay for it." James was also concerned about limited evening bus service to the Wilson Mall for residents who have no transportation but need to work. "The city is not necessarily ignoring Mr. James' concerns," Councilman A.P. Coleman said.

"That (money for the 301 Highway Advisory Committee) was just a way for us to help the 301 task force members do some specific things for 301 to stimulate businesses to clean up themselves and possibly attract businesses to come and do business on 301." In May, the City Council decided to give $30,000 to the 301 Highway Advisory Committee. The money will allow the committee to award $1,000 matching grants to businesses interested in making improvements to their grounds. After the 2008-09 budget was approved, Councilwoman Gwen Burton asked residents to donate to the city's Help Your Neighbor program, which provides Wilson Energy customers the chance to donate money that will help needy residents pay their electric bills. The program is administered by the Salvation Army. "People are going to need help," Burton said. "If you can afford to donate to help your neighbor, please do so." The city budget includes $410,000 in designated funding for eight nonprofit organizations, $54,000 for the first phase of a citywide comprehensive land-use plan, $50,000 to fund a new director's post with the Preservation of Wilson, and an additional $50,000 to the Wilson Downtown Development Corp. for its director post, increasing the city's allocation to WDDC to $103,950. The budget also includes employee merit raises up to 4 percent. No new employees, including fire and police, were approved for the 2008-09 fiscal year. "I've been through this budget and we've cut everything we can cut, and it's probably going to be worse this winter with the economic situation we've got, said Councilman Bill Blackman. "But I hope next year, staff can look at cutting some things out in different departments to help out. It's the best we can do this year." The 2008-09 budget goes into effect July 1. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818