Budget on City Council agenda for Monday night
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on June 17, 2007 2:00 AM
Eight public hearings and potential approval of the recommended 2007-2008 fiscal year budget are on the docket for Monday's meeting of the Goldsboro City Council.
The hearings cover a variety of issues, from zoning to conditional land use requests.
The first involves a request from New Century Homes that property located on the south side of Eighth Street be rezoned from residential to general business.
Next, the council is scheduled to hear comments regarding property located on the south side of Cuyler Best Road, between New Hope Road and North Park Drive.
Two more zoning issues will be discussed, also.
One, involves property located on the south side of Ash Street, between Oleander and Audubon avenues. Parcel owner Patrick Gallagher is seeking a change from residential to office-residence.
The other involves a request for a change in zoning from residential to office-residence at property located on the southwest corner of Ash Street and Oleander Avenue.
The council will also hear from residents who wish to see the names of North Jefferson and South Jefferson streets changed to North and South Jefferson Avenue.
Once the public hearing session concludes, council members are expected to vote on the 2007-2008 fiscal year budget prepared and amended by City Manager Joe Huffman and city staff members.
The $46.5 million budget includes many items -- but no tax increase.
Should the budget pass, residents can expect to spend a little more in the coming year, though.
Water rates would increase 10 percent, a move Huffman has said will bring close to $400,000 in new revenue.
There are other items in the budget that might surprise residents, too.
The cost of reconstruction of the Paramount Theater, for example, is not represented in the budget, as debt services for the $5 million project won't be realized until the next fiscal year, Huffman said.
A potential vote on the budget is one of few items requiring individual action.
Others include proposed approval of a drug policy for city employees and a formal bid request for the purchase of a modular home.
At the end of their meeting, as is their policy, council members will open the floor to the public for comment. Residents who wish to speak are asked to limit their address to three minutes.
Those planning to attend the 7 p.m. meeting are asked to turn off or mute all cell phones and pagers before entering the second-floor conference room at City Hall.