Public comments on city budget
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on June 1, 2016 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro City Council held a public hearing Tuesday for its proposed 2016-17 budget and accepted several changes recommended by the city staff.
Several residents spoke during the hearing, including the director of an area nonprofit group.
Donald Coles Jr., Four Day Movement director, asked the council to consider a nonprofit funding request of $7,400 for the organization that provides crisis assistance and other help to veterans, senior citizens and children.
"We are a mission-oriented nonprofit organization that prides ourself on helping those who are falling through the cracks of life," Coles said.
The council took the request under consideration but took no action.
Resident Charles Wright also spoke during the hearing and questioned city expenses, including the purchase of an aerial fire truck and 10 police vehicles. Wright also spoke against water and sewer fee increases and the addition of a new motor vehicle licensing tax.
Allison Platt, a member of the Arts Council of Wayne County board, thanked the council for its proposed increase in funding. The Arts Council is set to receive a $5,000 increase in annual funding, to $30,000 in the upcoming budget year
"I'd just like to thank you all for your support of the Arts Council," Platt said.
The council took no action during the public hearing, which was followed by a budget work session in the City Hall annex meeting room.
During the session, city staff presented a potential mobile stage purchase, which was not related to the budget. City Manager Scott Stevens said the stage was being presented because city staff recently learned, the used stage was available, at a cost of $26,000.
A new mobile stage could cost $45,000, said Scott Barnard, Goldsboro parks and recreation director. The purchase would allow the city to break even in three years by purchasing the stage and removing the need to rent stages, Barnard said.
The council took no action on the recommendation, but District 2 Councilman Bill Broadaway said the city's two trailers, which are not being used this year for city events, are dangerous.
Mayor Pro-Tem Gene Aycock asked if the city would increase if the city would increase its liability if it owned the mobile stage instead of renting stage.
"I think we are, if it's ours or not ours, Stevens said.
Kaye Scott, Goldsboro finance director, provided the council with several additions to the recommended $57.7 million budget proposal.
The additions include a full-time assistant public utilities director, at a cost of $79,751, the purchase of a $75,000 Bobcat skid steer loader, and a $70,000 cost to rehabilitate the elevator in City Hall. The planning department is also recommended to receive an additional $20,000 to hire part-time workers for the citywide litter program.
City staff recommended two water backflow device inspection fees for business owners who voluntarily decide to have the required annual inspections performed by city staff. Based on a market analysis, a $75 fee would be charged for inspections involving smaller devices, and a $90 fee would be charged for larger devices.
"The lowest we ever looked at was $65, but then we came up with this cost and thought it was more fair-market value," said Jose Martinez, Goldsboro public works director.
The council also review cost comparisons for area golf courses and cemeteries. No changes were made to fees charged at the city's municipal golf course. The 2016-17 budget will change cemetery fees to one city cost, which will remove the resident and non-resident fee structure, Stevens said.
The council discussed some aspects of the budget Tuesday, including the city's planned purchase of a 28-passenger minivan, at a cost of $45,000. The vehicle is used by several city departments, including Goldsboro's Parks and Recreation Department, and will replace the city's 15-passenger van, Barnard said.
The council did not schedule any other budget work sessions and is set to vote on the budget proposal Monday.
The $57.7 million budget maintains the current property tax rate of 65 cents per $100 in property valuation. Rate increases for water and sewer, a new vehicle licensing tax and new business registration fee are recommended.
Water rates are planned to increase by 2.5 percent and sewer rates by 1 percent. The increases equal a 5-cent increase for every 750 gallons of water and sewer, with customers using 4,500 gallons per month experiencing an estimated 60-cent increase.
Water and sewer rate increases will go toward the future expansion of the city water plant and will fund sewer line improvements in the city.
The annual $10 motor vehicle licensing tax will produce $270,000 in the 2016-17 budget and will be used for street construction and other repaving needs. The annual business registration fee will produce an estimated $50,000 in revenue and will be used to offset the city's cost of maintaining a list of businesses operating in the city, a state-mandated procedure.
Based on staff recommendations five full-time employees will be added to the city's workforce, which will increase to 449 employees.
Employee raises are also planned and include a 1 percent cost-of-living increase and a 1 percent average in merit pay increases.