Eureka passes budget - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

By Ashley Merrill
NL Editor
28 June 2007 — Eureka’s Town Board approved two increases Tuesday night: a two percent raise on property tax for next year’s budget, and a pay increase for Town Clerk Reta Chase.

The meeting began with a discussion of matters related to the sewer rehabilitation project, the filling in of manholes at the school. Mayor Steven Howell and Commissioner Myrtie Sauls debated with Commissioner Billy Martin over where the town’s property ended and the school’s property began. The manhole at the school apparently receives water coming from the roof, and needs to be taken care of during the sewer rehabilitation project.

Mayor Howell then kicked off discussion of increasing the rates on Eureka cemetery burial plots. Commissioner Sauls introduced the idea of selling plots on the main driveway through the old section of the cemetery. The board compared current and proposed prices to those for surrounding towns. Currently Eureka charges $350 and $500 in the old section, and $400 and $600 in the new section. Fremont and Mount Olive charge less for graves, and Fremont apparently sells a single plot for $650 or a double for $1300, according to Mayor Howell. He approves of this model, and suggested that Eureka look into selling single plots for a higher rate than half the cost of a double plot.

With no consensus reached, the plan was tabled in favor of moving on to the budget. Mayor Howell immediately raised the question of the tax increase, saying “Financially we need it; personally I hate to do it.”

During a closed session immediately following, the board discussed personnel matters and decided to offer Reta Chase a pay raise, to $14 per hour.

Myrtie Sauls then made a motion to increase the property tax by two cents. “I think we have to, I don’t think we can let our tax rate get any lower,” she argued, citing the costs of the sewer rehabilitation project. She elaborated that the tax would then be 54 cents for the town and 8 cents for the Fire Department, which would return the tax to the same rate it was a year ago.

Mrs. Sauls, Commissioner Al Head, and Mr. Martin voted in favor, with Bobby Gooding voting against; the motion then passed.
Mrs. Myrtie Sauls then asked for a motion approving the budget with the tax increase. Bobby Gooding voted against as well, as he did not agree with the tax increase. The budget was then approved.

Mayor Howell then reminded the board that the deadline is approaching for Commissioners to refile at the Goldsboro Board of Elections for their seats. The date is July 20.

Town Clerk Rita Chase announced that during her conversation with the auditor, he said to change the $60,000 budgeted for the sewer costs to $205,000, which would include the sewer bills currently owed to Fremont. Mrs. Chase said the amount would need to come out of the General Fund as an equity transfer, to balance the budget. Mrs. Myrtie Sauls made a motion that all overexpenditures for last year’s budget, for the sewer fund and General Fund, be amended as of June 30, which passed unanimously.

Eureka’s next town board meeting will be held August 7.

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