The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

July 23, 2012

Princeville residents face multiple hikes in costs for services

Staff Writer Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — PRINCEVILLE — Interim Princeville town manager Maggie Boyd failed to give the town's board a budget message that contained pertinent information concerning rate increases during the town's special budget workshop last Thursday. The document was prepared by town accountant  Allan Daniels, who did not attend the meeting.

The budget message recommends an increase in water and sewer, garbage collection and tax rates proposed 2012-2013 budget, which is $1.8 million — compared to $1.5 million for the fiscal year ended June 30.

Under the new budget document, the water rate will increase from $18 to $18.99, sewer from $36 to $44.39, garbage from $14.51 to $17.52 and the property tax rate from 62 cents to 76.4 cents per $100 valuation

According to the missing budget message, water and sewer increases were recommended based on a collection rate of 80 percent, while the garbage collection rate recommendation was based on Waste Management's charging the town $17.46 per month per household while the town was only charging $14.51.

Commissioners Ann Howell and Gwen Knight said they were not aware of the budget message or the proposed increases until they were informed by a newspaper reporter after Thursday's meeting. Commissioner Calvin Sherrod said he was told about the proposed water and sewer increase, but that he was not aware of the tax increase. Neither Howell nor Knight received a copy of the budget message.

During the budget workshop, Boyd rattled off numbers from each department but never mentioned the actual amount of the proposed budget, a definitive statement concerning the overall budget or the rate increases.

North Carolina General Statues requires a budget message to be given, but does not mandate the level of detail that it must contain," said a Julia Vail, media representative for the Local Government Commission.

When Commissioner Ann Howell asked if there would be a water and sewer rate increase, Boyd did not answer.

Boyd, who was appointed interim town manager in February after former manager Victor Marrow was fired, has no previous municipality administration experience.

The budget, which was due on June 30, is one of several items that the town is filing late. Town officials were forced to adopt an interim budget for July which gave the town another deadline — July 31.

Thursday's workshop gave the town enough time to have its 10-day period for the public to review the budget. Town officials voted 3-2 to postpone Monday's monthly meeting to July 30 when a public hearing will be held for the budget. If the board request extensive changes in the budget, the accountant has only one day to make them.

That's not the only pressure on the board. On Tuesday, the board will be waiting to hear from the Local Government Commission on its ruling on whether or not Princeville will keep control of it finances. LGC gave Princeville 14 days beginning July 10 to straighten out its financial morass that has nearly crippled the town. On Tuesday, LGC will vote whether or not to impound the town's books.

If LGC takes over the town's fiances, it will be the second time for the oldest town in America charted by blacks. On Feb. 4, 1997, LGC took over Princeville and returned the books to town control on Jan. 6, 1998.







 



 

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