THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 21, 1996 TAG: 9605210316
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 49 lines
Taxes won't go up in Dare County next year under the revised 1996-97 budget proposed Monday that would hold the property levy at 40 cents per $100 of valuation.
The Dare County Board of Commissioners agreed to schedule a public hearing at 10 a.m. June 3 on the preliminary spending plan. County Manager Terry Wheeler said he recommends that the board formally adopt the plan by June 17.
The total budget proposed is $35,543,396, which includes an additional $55,000 in unanticipated interest income, $140,000 in sales tax growth and an additional $100,000 in collected property taxes.
Some of the expenses not allocated in the original two-year budget include $199,968 for the recreation department, $505,000 for the Board of Education and $53,000 for a new animal shelter facility.
Finance Director David Clawson also said $28,000 for a water quality employee was appropriated out of a total water quality program budget of $52,000.
Commissioner Shirley Hassell criticized what she contends are questionable expenditures, saying that taxpayers need to be aware of election promises and hidden expenses.
Clawson said most of the budget figures that Hassell had questioned were routine carryovers from the previous year's budget that would be reappropriated.
Copies of the preliminary plan will be made available at county offices, libraries and community centers.
The commissioners also voted to place a one-year moratorium on adult establishments in the unincorporated portions of Dare County, including Colington, Wanchese, Duck and the area around Manteo. The panel said the year will give them the necessary time to study how to create a comprehensive ordinance to permanently address the issue.
The moratorium will prevent any sexually oriented business from being granted a site plan or zoning amendment while county officials consider the best way to develop appropriate regulations and standards. Most incorporated towns in the county already have a moratorium in place.
``If we allow adult entertainment and sexually oriented business to become part of life on the Outer Banks, I think we'd be making a big mistake,'' said resident Pat Harrell. Harrell was among several residents who spoke against the businesses at a public hearing.
County Attorney H. Al Cole said he will be attending a local government seminar on the issue. He said banning adult establishments can be addressed under local ordinances and community standards, and federal, state and county laws must be carefully studied. by CNB