Council aims to complete budget Monday
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on June 5, 2005 2:01 AM
The Goldsboro City Council plans to finish the city's 2005-06 budget Monday night.
The council has made several changes since the budget was proposed last month, but it still is based on a 65-cents property tax rate, up 5 cents from last year. Sewer rates will also rise 15 percent.
City Manager Joe Huffman has agreed to make almost $330,000 in purchases before June 30, which will keep them out of next year's budget. These include a VOIP telephone system for the new City Hall, a bucket truck, and two leaf trucks.
The City Council also asked Huffman to hire a minimum housing inspector, at a salary of $35,000, by July. City officials believe this employee can catch some hosuing problems at an earlier stage, which might prevent the need for demolitions.
Funding for the Wayne County Museum was increased from $5,000 to $10,000 and will be funded by the city's room taxes. In response, the museum's board has announced the addition of Saturday and Sunday hours.
The city will also be giving Waynesborough Park $10,000 to hire part-time help in its visitors center.
City Council members removed $33,000 for PACC-10's televising of city events until they could approve a contract with Parker Advertising that would detail exactly what services the city would get. Right now, that money is still out of the budget.
The proposed budget is based on a property tax rate of 65 cents per $100 valuation. The 5-cent increase would mean the owner of a $85,000 home, the city's median house value, would be billed an additional $42.50 in city taxes when notices are mailed in September.
Wayne County commissioners are also discussing a property tax increase.
The city also will raise sewer rates 15 percent. The average household would pay about $4.70 more per month.
Other business
Also Monday, the City Council is scheduled to decide several land-use issues.
The owner of Raper Discount Drugs on Wayne Memorial Drive is seeking a zoning change that would permit the store to have a larger sign or more signs.
The city has been asked to 11 acres on the north side of Belfast Road for industrial or commercial uses. The tract, owned by Erma Thompson, is part of a larger property that was split by the new U.S. 117.
Elma Lofton wants permission to build an eight-unit apartment complex on the east side of John Street, directly across from Graham Street. The complex would serve elderly clients.
Dwight and Elizabeth Sutton want to open a beach bingo establishment in North Plaza shopping center, which is on Spence Avenue across from Wal-Mart. The bingo parlor would be in between Mitchell's Hair Styling Academy and Dollar General and would generally be open evenings and Sunday afternoon.
The council will also review site and lanscape plans for Ashebrook Apartments, which will be built on Randall Lane.
The board will also see plans for a new Subway restaurant, which will be built at the former Krispy Kreme Doughnuts site, and additions to Golds-boro Pediatrics, off Medical Office Place, and to Deeper Life Church Ministries, on Eleventh Street.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the council's chambers, Goldsboro City Hall, 214 N. Center St. It will be televised live on PACC-10 (Channel 10 on TimeWarner Cable).