2003

No rise in city taxes

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline By Margaret J. Stair Daily Times Staff Writer The city will spend 8.4 percent more next year, but property taxes will remain the same, City Manager Ed Wyatt recommended in his budget proposal to City Council Thursday night. Wyatt expects to make up the difference in funding for his $179 million budget by increasing the amount of money taken from the city's reserves. He also proposes increasing planning and zoning fees and continuing the half percent local sales tax the General Assembly authorized last year to replace the reimbursements the state ended for local governments. Less than half the spending increase is in the general fund, which pays for the operation of city government, including police and fire departments. The rest will be in the utilities funds. Wyatt said utility increases are from the need to pay for capital improvements, many of which are to meet increasing state and federal standards for wastewater treatment. "As you can see, we are constantly having mandates placed upon us," Wyatt said. In order to pay the debt service on Phase I and Phase II of sewer treatment upgrades, Wyatt is seeking a 7 percent hike in wastewater fees and a 3.7 percent increase in the base charge for water. He expects this to increase the average residential water bill by $1.56 per month. Phase II would make handling of sludge more efficient, thus avoiding problems like those recently experienced by the city of Raleigh, and would meet new state ammonia discharge standards. The budget increases will pay for eight new full-time employees and the conversion of four parttime positions to full-time. Two of the new positions will be firefighters. "Our present (firefighting) staff is stretched to dangerous levels," said Wyatt. "In my judgment, city budget Wilson Daily Times May 16, 2003 Local News a1

that's a number one priority." Another new position will be in the Police Department, an evidence and identification specialist. Wyatt wants to hire one new utilities customer service representative, who would speak Spanish, and upgrade one part-time job in that department to full-time. "We have increasing service demand primarily due to the growth of our city," said Wyatt. "We continue to struggle to provide the level of service our citizens have come to expect." Two new employees would operate the vacuum truck that clears out stormwater drains. The other two new full-time positions would not be filled until May 2004. They would take over street-sweeping once a contract for sweeping with Waste Industries expires. Based on the city's experience with taking over recycling, Wyatt expects this to save the city $325,00 over the next five years while improving the service. "Improving delivery of this service will ultimately improve stormwater management," he said. The other three part-time positions that would be converted to full-time would be an assistant athletic supervisor, an automotive assistant and a program assistant in safety and risk management. Wyatt told council members that they might also want to consider the 301 Task Force's recommendation that four more inspectors be hired to enforce the city's minimum housing code. Other increased expenses include: * $635,000 for an expected 14 percent premium increase for employee health insurance. * An upgrade to 800 MHz for the public safety radio system. * Planning money for the H. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex at Toisnot Park. * Demolition of the Coon High School Annex. * Technology upgrades to allow people to pay bills and apply for permits online. * Funds to complete the construction of a new gas meter shop and renovate the old one for use by the water distribution department. * A rest room building for the Wilson Rose Garden. * Rebuilding the maintenance building at Recreation Park. Flooding last August destroyed this facility.

* Extension of new gas lines to new subdivisions. Council will hold work sessions on the budget at 5:30 p.m. May 22 and 29. Its first public hearing on the budget will be at 7 p.m. May 29. Council will probably adopt the budget following the second public hearing, which will be at 7 p.m. June 19. You may reach Margaret J. Stair at margaret@wilsondaily.com or at 265-7878