THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994 TAG: 9406220466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940622 LENGTH: CURRITUCK
Also included in next year's package is a 5 percent cost-of-living raise for county employees earning less than $25,000. Those making more will receive a 2.5 percent raise.
{REST} Fire and rescue services, however, did not get additional funding that some citizens say is desperately needed in the rapidly growing county.
The 1994-95 general fund of $14.06 million is a 7 percent increase over last year.
Currituck property taxes, for the fourth year, will remain the same at 56 cents per $100 of assessed value.
But officials warned that next year's tax will most likely go up 8 or 9 cents to help pay for $16 million in school construction bonds approved last year by voters.
A third of the allocations from the general operating fund will be given to the Board of Education, which had originally asked for almost $5.5 million but later reduced the request to $4.66 million.
The money will be used for operating expenses and capital outlays, such as school buses, computers and desks. The school system is the largest non-manufacturing employer in Currituck County.
The recent population explosion in the county has meant overcrowded classrooms for many of the schools' 2,900 students. Teachers and students sometimes work from some 40 mobile units on various school campuses.
The $18.7 million construction fund will go toward a new high school in Barco, an elementary school in Jarvisburg and renovation of Central Elementary in Maple.
``This is the largest construction program that the county has ever undertaken,'' Dan Scanlon, the county's finance director, said Tuesday.
Several fire departments did not receive the 15 to 49 percent funding increases they had requested.
The six stations each received about the same level of funding as last year, but some had hoped to dip into a reserve account that county officials say is drying up.
A fire district tax increase also was rejected.
``Knowing that the school bond will have an impact on taxpayers next year, the board did not want to adversely affect the taxes in the current fiscal year,'' Scanlon said.
At Monday's public hearing on the budget, resident Bill Dobney raised questions about county priorities.
``Do you value the lives of horses more than the lives of citizens of Currituck?'' Dobney asked, referring to $37,500 earmarked for a wild horse management study in Corolla.
Dobney believes money from a 4 percent occupancy tax could be used to fund some projects, particularly completion of a 911 rural addressing system.
He also took issue with the county's handling of the occupancy tax levied on tourists. The tax, which last year generated almost $900,000, is one of the fastest growing revenue sources in the county.
One percent of that tax supports a wildlife museum to eventually be housed at the Whalehead Club in Corolla, which the county purchased in 1992 for $2.4 million. Of the remaining revenue, 75 percent of it must be used on tourist-related projects.
The remaining occupancy tax money can be used for other county programs. Some believe fire, rescue and police services should benefit from the tourist tax, since they respond to more calls during the tourist season.
But County Manager Bill Richardson in his budget message urged caution when spending tourist tax money. A hurricane or oil spill could quickly dry up that revenue stream, he said.
Other budget highlights include:
$436,000 to close out the county landfill.
$215,000 for a new county courthouse design.
$100,000 for asbestos removal at the Whalehead Club.
$100,000 for a new Currituck water study.
Among several other projects is a $25,000 recreation initiative to build playgrounds and recreational facilities for Currituck County children.
The grant program will provide matching funds to homeowners and civic groups that develop playgrounds within subdivisions. by CNB