Council Receives Proposed Budget 5/07/08

Town Manager Carl Dean's proposed 2008-2009 budget includes a revenue neutral property tax rate of 41.5 cents and lowers the monthly charge for garbage collection.

Charges for water and for sewer service would rise a dollar per month each under the proposed annual budget presented to the Town Council at its May 6 meeting.

A revenue neutral property tax rate compensates for the higher values stemming from the recent countywide property revaluation. It is intended that the Town receive the same amount of revenue as with the previous year's rate and values, not counting growth.

The new budget year begins July 1. The Town Council has scheduled a work session for May 21 at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The required public hearing is expected to occur June 3.

Highlights of the proposed 2007-2008 budget include:

• Solid Waste Fees - A $1.20 per month reduction in the garbage collection fee for a monthly fee of $8.15. The yard waste fee would remain at $1 per month. Recycling fees would rise by 70 cents to $3.25 per month. The manager proposes replacing the 18-gallon recycling bins with 48-gallon rollout carts to make it convenient for residents to recycle more.

• Water & Sewer Rates - The monthly access fees for water and for sewer would increase by $1 each (from $7.50 to $8.50 per month) to help pay for wastewater treatment plant expansion and for the availability of more drinking water from Harnett County.

• New Positions - 14 new positions for the general fund portion of the budget spread among the Police, Fire and Public Works departments

Recreation projects under way include completion of Womble, Jones and Veterans parks and planning for a community center.

To ensure that new residential developments absorb additional infrastructure costs, the proposed budget has increases in water and sewer capacity fees, acreage fees and tap fees.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us