THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 19, 1995 TAG: 9506190110
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
A growing tax base and increased sales tax revenue have allowed Pasquotank County to offer its third consecutive annual budget without raising real estate taxes.
``We're going to do a lot in this budget, I think, without raising taxes,'' County Manager Randy Keaton said last week. ``I think it turned out pretty good this year.''
County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the document at 7:30 tonight.
The 1995-96 budget totals $15.8 million, a spending increase of nearly 8 percent over 1994-95. But ad valorem taxes will remain at 72 cents per $100 valuation.
``We always try to avoid raising taxes,'' Keaton said. ``We had enough revenue so we didn't have to.''
The budget includes 7 1/2 new positions, five of them in the Sheriff's Department. Funding for several of those positions is being shared by the federal government, the schools and Elizabeth City.
The greatest spending increases came in the county-sponsored agencies that grow significantly with population.
``Due to the continued growth of Pasquotank County, the largest increases in the budget continue to result from expansion of the school system and increases in law enforcement and social services,'' Keaton's budget message says.
Public schools will receive about $5.4 million, accounting for just more than a third of the county general fund budget. Public safety, human services and general government follow on the list.
Property taxes of more than $7 million are the largest revenue slice at nearly 45 percent, budget figures show. Keaton said this year the county surpassed $1 billion in total estimated valuation for the first time. by CNB