THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 18, 1995 TAG: 9504180284
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Voters in Dare County may face a referendum on a 3-cent property tax increase to pay for education.
The chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., said Monday that the revenue produced would go to county schools to upgrade technology and provide more teachers for the growing system.
``Every penny will go to education,'' Owens said. ``We've got to get education to that next level. We're very close to having the best school system in the state. The new budget will place a big emphasis on technology.''
Under a proposed budget, the county would spend $750,000 annually for the next four years on technology.
A 3-cent increase would boost the taxes per $100 of property to 40 cents in the county. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $30 more in taxes.
Committees from the commission and the school board have been meeting as part of the budget process. A budget hearing is set for education next Monday.
Meanwhile, County Manager Terry Wheeler unveiled some $1.6 million in proposed cuts in the general operating budget submitted by county departments for the next two-year budget cycle.
If the board of commissioners adopts the cuts, the county would face a $134,041 deficit for fiscal 1995-96, and $116,220 for 1996-97. That money could be recouped from the county's fund balance, Wheeler said. There would be no need for a tax increase to meet general operating expenses, which are separate from school funding.
``As far as the county's general operating budget, we can balance it without a tax increase,'' Wheeler said.
Wheeler also said that because county departments rarely spend all of their appropriations, and because projected revenues are figured conservatively, a transfer from the fund balance may not be necessary.
Among the proposed cuts:
No raises for county employees are included in the proposal. However, a possible merit increase system, as well as a cost-of-living adjustment, is being studied.
The Dare County Sheriff's Department would get six of the 16 new vehicles it requested.
A $111,000 request for surveillance cameras by the Dare County Detention Center was taken out of the general operating budget. Wheeler said the cameras were needed, but under the proposal, the money would come from the Capital Project Fund.
A proposal for a new youth football program would also get the ax. Starting the league would cost $17,200.
Virtually every county department would see cuts in spending for vehicles, copiers and other equipment.
Commissioners Geneva Perry and Doug Langford asked Wheeler to look into cuts in the proposed budget for the Dare County Fire Marshal's Office. For the current year, the budget appropriates $59,000. For 1995-96, the office seeks $114,000.
Perry expressed particular concern about the miscellaneous-funding request.
``I have a problem with miscellaneous anything,'' said Perry. ``But I have a real problem with $11,400 for miscellaneous in the budget when he only had $2,200 this year.''
Vice Chairman Clarence Skinner also questioned $10,000 in cuts designated for books for the Dare County Library.
A proposed budget is expected to be available for public inspection by May 1. by CNB