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Wayne Commissioners’ budget calls for tax hike

By Sarah A. Wise
NL Staff Writer
21 June 2007 — Wayne County Commissioners opened the floor on Monday to citizens for feedback on the proposed budget for the upcoming year, and received no negative feedback. However, the commissioners commented that the lack of criticism does not necessarily indicate approval from the citizens of the county.

Earlier this month, County Manager Lee Smith presented the commissioners with a proposed budget, which included a 5 percent hike to the county property tax. Mr. Smith noted before the public hearing on Monday that he had made several changes to the original proposal after hearing from the commissioners.

The primary focus of the changes was shaving several aspects of the budget to accommodate a 2.9 percent tax increase, rather than 5 percent. If the 2.9 increase stands, the tax rate will rise to 76.4 cents per $100 valuation.

The money generated by the increase will go toward funding school projects, as well as Medicaid and other Social Services programs.

In order to accommodate the smaller tax increase, Mr. Smith trimmed several other areas of the budget through delaying projects and cutting an increase to the economic development reserve, eliminating the need for around $1.2 million.

A roof project at Wayne Community College was deferred until next year, saving $850,000. A delay on a scanning project for the Health Department saved another $175.000.

The economic development reserve fund, which is a county fund used for funding projects like the construction of shell buildings, will be maintained at their 2006-2007 level, saving $250,000.

Only one person appeared before the board to comment during the public hearing. Sarah Merrit, the new director of the Arts Council, thanked the board for including support of her organization into the budget.

After the close of the public forum, Commissioner Efton Sager offered a few comments on the budget proposal, encouraging more trimming.

“I don’t take the fact that we didn’t have anyone speak on the budget today to mean that we have 100 percent approval from the citizens,” he said.

He also pointed out that the board was waiting to hear on Medicaid funding from the state, and he was hoping the county could get some relief there.

“But when we make a budget,” Mr. Sager said, “we gotta make a budget according to what we know we’re gonna to have, not what we hope we’re gonna have.”

Chairman John Bell commented that, overall, he had not heard too much opposition to the budget overall.

While some could have seen the lack of community participation at Monday’s meeting as disheartening, Mr. Smith pointed out that many citizens are using another vehicle to express their opinions – the internet.

He explained that the link to the proposed budget on the county’s website also includes a comment section, which allows citizens to email questions or comments directly to the county manager’s office.

He said the number of emails the office received from citizens who went to the library or accessed the budget at their home and voiced their opinions or asked questions impressed him.

“Of course people don’t like taxes, and a lot of them told us they didn’t want an increase,” he said.

But for many others, some of their disagreements were based around misinformation, and Mr. Smith said he had the opportunity to help clear a lot of that up.

“We took the time to email back each one individually, and I think we got a pretty good response from that,” he said. “One gentleman had 10 or 15 specific questions, and it was great to hear from him and be able to give that feedback.”

Citizens will have more time to respond in this manner. The commissioners will hold a vote on the budget at next week’s meeting, and will be taking questions and comments via the county website (www.waynegov.com).

Mr. Smith also reminded citizens that they can voice any concerns they have through the internet as well.

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