By: Erin Smith
The Elizabethtown Town Council got their first look at the preliminary 2016-17 budget during the noon work session on Monday.
Finance Director Jay Leatherman gave the council an overview of the revenues for the proposed budget. He told the council there is no change to the current ad valorem tax rate of $0.615 per $100 of valuation. The Business Improvement District Tax will remain at $0.10 per $100 valuation. The water rates will also remain the same.
Leatherman also reminded the board that during the budget retreat held in February he informed them that in order to be competitive in the future for much needed state grants and loans, the town has to have a sewer rate of $33 for 5,000 gallons. Leatherman said that town staff have increased the commercial sewer rates and the residential rates in order to meet that threshold of $33 for 5,000 gallons of sewer.
Leatherman also told the Council that Waste Industries is expected to increase their fees by 2.5 percent.
The budget also carries a recommendation of a 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment and the town is also anticipating an increase of 2.8 to 3.5 percent in health insurance rates in January 2017. It is noted that this is the first increase in health insurance rates since January 2015.
Leatherman also called the board’s attention to a proposed fee schedule presented by the fire department pertaining to fire inspection services.
Town Manager Eddie Madden highlighted the expenditures also carried in the budget. He told the board Police Chief Tony Parrish had initially requested two positions for the police department for the upcoming budget cycle. However, the proposed FY 2016-17 budget carries with it one position.
Chief Parrish spoke to the board about the position and why it is needed. He told the board that currently the K-9 handler has the daily responsibility of answering calls, taking calls, and checking reports. He said by moving the K-9 to the investigative unit, he can be more effectively utilized for drug searches, tracking, and using the K-9 in the manner it was intended. Chief Parrish said by moving the K-9 to the investigative unit, it would leave a vacancy on the patrol side.
Madden said the police department is also writing a grant that would cover the salary and benefits for three years for another position.
Fire Chief Nick West told the board that he has applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a SAFER grant to help fund five paid personnel for three years. He said the fire department has also applied for a $1 million grant to help with replacing air packs. Chief West said he is waiting to learn whether or not either grant will be funded.
Madden told the board that while Waste Industries has done a great job with commercial, residential and recycling waste. The town staff and residents are not as satisfied with their leaf and limb collection services.
“Leaf and Limb has not gone as well as we would like. When we (the town) did it we were very hands on,” said Madden.
He said that the town and Waste Industries have agreed to allow the town to opt out of the leaf and limb agreement. Madden said the reason the town stopped providing the service in the first place was because they lost the inmate labor. Now the town once again has inmate labor and the town also kept all of its leaf and limb equipment.
Madden said the town has been paying Waste Industries $140,000 per year for just the leaf and limb service. He said the town staff are recommending the town go back to providing leaf and limb service to residents.
Following the presentation of the proposed budget, Town Councilman Dicky Glenn said the he was appreciative of the efforts of the town staff and all of the department heads on creating the draft of the budget.
He noted that Public Works Director Pat DeVane did a great job when the Jiffy Lube on Peanut Road was the victim of a someone striking a fire hydrant and causing damage underneath the business. Glenn said that DeVane was able to learn the identity of the driver of the vehicle and get the situation resolved.
Glenn also said that he felt like the town should consider eliminating the K-9 unit. Glenn suggested partnering with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office since they currently have two K-9 units.
Glenn also said he liked the idea of hiring five more firefighters with the grant. Glenn also noted that at the end of three years the town may not have the revenue to keep them. He said he did not foresee the town growing enough in three years to be able to assume the salaries.
Councilman Rufus Lloyd asked Chief West about the volunteer situation at the fire station.
“It has become increasingly difficult to recruit and train volunteer firefighters,” said Chief West.
He noted that there issues with the volunteers working one or two jobs and/or attending school.
“We continue to have service gaps,” said Chief West.
Chief West also noted that the fire department will perform the services that are mandated by the council to the very best of their ability, but they will do it safely.
“During the day we are good. Nights and weekends, not so good,” said West.
Chief West pointed out that Elizabethtown Fire Department often is called to assist other fire departments. Chief West said recently Elizabethtown Fire Department answered a call in White Oak because the White Oak Fire Department did not have enough man power. He also said recently the Elizabethtown Fire Department had assisted on a call in Tar Heel.
Chief West noted that when the fire department is answering these calls out in the county, it leaves the town uncovered. Chief West also pointed that there are staffing issues and funding issues everywhere.
“We want to provide a high level of service, and we will continue to do that,” said Chief West.
Chief West added that the training requirements are the same for firefighters whether they are volunteer or whether they work with Elizabethtown Fire Department.
The council will continue to work on the budget and has until June 30 to formally adopt a budget.
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