Council eyes city budget
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on May 6, 2014 1:46 PM
No increase in utility or solid waste treatment fees.
No funding for WAGES.
And no new taxes -- unless, of course, the city's $18.9 million Parks and Recreation bond passes today.
The Goldsboro City Council got its first look at the proposed 2014-15 budget Monday evening, a $54,038,688 spending plan that is up $1.6 million from the one passed last summer.
Under the proposed budget, the city tax rate would remain at 65 cents per $100 of valuation, but if the Parks and Rec bond passes, that rate would increase to 67.1 cents per $100.
Three new positions are also recommended in the plan.
The first, a police narcotics officer who would lead the DEA Task Force within the Goldsboro Police Department, stands to make $55,552 a year.
A new box office attendant for the Paramount Theatre would make $9,740.
And a military liaison who would "lead the effort to protect the mission of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base by coordinating and communicating with all involved parties" would receive nearly $54,000 for the year.
But the liaison position is not the only Seymour Johnson-related expenditure in the proposed budget.
The consultant fee line item for the mayor and City Council increased by $119,000 from last year's budget -- money that would be used for "Friends of SJAFB support."
Other significant increases from the 2013-14 budget include an additional $325,000 for street resurfacing, $40,000 to cover election costs associated with the Parks and Rec bond, $285,000 for the TIGER grant match and $54,000 to move the F-86 that is currently being restored by Seymour Johnson airmen.
There are significant omissions, as well.
The Boys & Girls Club requested $15,000 and WAGES $25,000 from the city and will get nothing.
Communities in Schools asked for $25,000 and, instead, was only allotted $15,000.
And WATCH requested $40,000, but, under the proposed plan, would only see half that amount.
Even the Chamber of Commerce did not get all they asked for -- the organization requested $20,000 and would only get $15,000.
Spending from the General Fund is set to increase by more than $2.6 million -- a figure attributed to a $326,000 pay class study, an equipment loan for fully-automated garbage trucks and containers, a street sweeper and fire pumper and increased spending on street resurfacing.
Should the council decide to go against the recommendation and increase the tax rate, the city would bring in $207,692 for every cent.