Walnut Creek avoids property tax increase
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on June 23, 2005 1:45 PM
WALNUT CREEK -- The Village Council made it official Wednesday night -- no property tax increase or utility rate hikes this year for Walnut Creek residents.
At its regular monthly meeting, the council unanimously passed the 2005-06 budget without any discussion.
Afterward, Mayor Ken Ritt made a point of noting that the village would not raise sewer bills this year, even though the city of Goldsboro is raising its fee for handling the village's wastewater by 15 percent.
The $1.1 million budget is balanced with the village's property tax rate of 36 cents per $100 valuation, the same as this year. The owner of a $275,000 house, the median value, would again pay $990 in village taxes next year.
Walnut Creek residents also pay Wayne County taxes, which are expected to go up.
The budget does not include new programs or employees. Current staff would get a 4-percent cost-of-living increase.
The budget sets aside $50,000 for the eventual construction of a town hall.
Partin-Hobbs Architects has been working on the design of a 3,800-square-foot building that would house the council's chambers, the police department and offices for village staff. The final blueprints are expected within three months.
Grim Hobbs told the council Wednesday night that the it could cost $600,000 to construct the building.
Also, the budget includes $30,000 to develop recreational uses, such as walking trails, on property acquired during the flood buyout.
The budget's general revenues are expected to be about $885,050 next year, slightly up from last year due to the construction of new homes. The utility fund is expected to be $277,330.
State law requires local governments to adopt annual budgets before July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.