June 5, 2008 issue
Commissioners Approve $77 Million Budget
Story by Kathleen McFadden
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2008-09 budget at their regular meeting on June 2. The total amount of the balanced county budget, including pass-through funds, is $77,415,599.
Here’s how that total breaks down:
$44,624,530—General Fund, the county’s operating expenses
$650,404—School Capital Outlay, capital projects for Watauga County Schools
$5,475,474—Public Assistance Fund, DSS and other social services
$10,790,345—Capital Reserve, funds set aside for future capital projects
$26, 645—Substance Abuse Tax Fund, restricted revenue under the control of the Sheriff’s Office
$400,000—E911 Surcharge, restricted revenue for emergency services
$2,488,699—Rural Fire Service District Fund and Fire Tax Districts Fund, money for the county fire districts
$8,164,836—Debt Service, the cost of interest on county debt
$4,794,665—Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, the cost of operating the county’s trash disposal and recycling operations
During their budget work sessions, the commissioners made a number of changes to the recommended budget prepared by County Manager Rocky Nelson, Assistant County Manager Deron Geouque and Finance Director Doris Isaacs. The result of the changes was a net increase of $122,118, offset by additional state funds, an appropriation from the DSS Fund Balance, a $2,000 payment from Blowing Rock for the Reverse 911 Code Red system and a decrease in the appropriation to Soil and Water recognizing an $8,000 grant the agency received.
In all, the changes to the budget resulted in a decreased appropriation from the county’s Fund Balance. The original budget balanced with a $1,399,323 appropriation from the Fund Balance. That number has been reduced by $12,082 to $1,387,241.
In the final budget, several agencies received additional funding above the recommended budget.
Humane Society—$10,000 for its spay/neuter fund
Cooperative Extension—$10,000 for the multiflora rose control program
Community Care Clinic—$5,000
County Fire Departments—$12,475
Crimestoppers—$1,000
Smoky Mountain Center—$8,507
AppalCART—$6,500
Children’s Playhouse—$1,500
Children’s Council—$5,000
The budget allocates $39,000 for hiring a security person for the skatepark and uses the $25,000 set-aside for phase II of the skatepark in the county capital improvement plan to offset some of the cost of the security person.
The budget also recognizes $75,000 in anticipated extra up-front expenses for foster care, resulting from a change at the state level for how counties must pay for group home services.
The 2008-09 budget does not increase the $0.313 ad valorem tax rate, but fire district tax rates in Boone Rural and Blowing Rock Rural are increasing. In Boone Rural, the rate is increasing from 2 cents to 4 cents; in Blowing Rock Rural, the rate is increasing from 3 cents to 5 cents.
In addition, some solid waste fees are increasing, some planning and inspections fees are increasing and some fire code fees are increasing.
The budget and the increased fees are effective July 1.
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