Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/839476
8 UCW JUNE 21-27, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM With less than two weeks remain- ing in the fiscal year, Fayetteville City Council has yet to adopt an operating budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. Members continue to work on several options this week. As of this writing, a hung council is divided 5-5 on City Manager Doug Hewett's proposal to raise taxes to achieve revenue neutrality in the wake of a $5.5 million decrease in property values. e most recent budget work sessions have been acrimonious, prompting Mayor Nat Robertson to ask members to be agreeable and be- have with civility and respect towards each other. At issue is whether to raise the tax rate or the City's household solid waste fee, or both. One proposal is to raise the fee from $44 per year to $108. at would allow budget writers to eliminate an $8 million supple- mental sanitation allocation from the general fund. DeViere and McDougald argued that fees are regressive and hurt low-income households while favor- ing the wealthy. Jensen noted that commercial businesses don't pay the annual solid waste fee because they depend on private trash com- panies. She said they would be hurt if the property tax is raised. Jensen is a small-business owner. Council member Jim Arp agreed. "We need more businesses paying lower taxes, not fewer businesses paying larger taxes," he said. Councilman Ted Mohn used a white board to record the ideas his colleagues offered on whether to raise the property tax or increase the solid waste fee. He favors a combination of both as proposed by the city manager. e others who favor an increase are deViere, McDougald, Mohn, Bobby Hurst and Larry Wright. Mayor Robertson, Jensen and Arp say they are unequivocally opposed to any increase. Bill Crisp and Mitch Colvin are also opposed. Colvin said any increase in the tax rate would be seen as taxing residents to pay for the $33-million baseball stadium planned for downtown. "We owe it to those folks to keep our word" and not raise taxes, he said. County Budget Adopted with Tax Increase Cumberland County Commis- sioners found themselves in a more difficult budget-balancing situation. ey approved raising the property tax rate from 74 cents to 79.9 cents per hundred dollars of valuation. at barely brings FY18 spending to a countywide revenue neutral posi- tion and will require cuts in govern- ment services. Cumberland County residential property values declined this year. Commercial values went up, so the tax increase will negatively affect businesses. When coupled with the county's fire district and recreation taxes, the total ad valorem tax rate in unincorporated areas of the county will be 96.15 cents. at doesn't in- clude storm water, solid waste, refuse and recycling fees or auto privilege taxes. Chairman Glenn Adams, Vice Chairman Charles Evans, and com- missioners Jeannette Council, Mar- shall Faircloth and Larry Lancaster voted in favor of the budget. Com- missioners Michael Boose and Jimmy Keefe were opposed. City Budget Impasse by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upand- comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. As of this writing, a hung council is divided 5-5 on City Manager Doug Hewett's proposal to raise taxes. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE! Abilities, Inc. of Florida d/b/a Service Source is accepting applications for housing based rental assistance occupancy for all property locations: Briarcliffe Apartments Barton's Landing Place Cumberland Towers If the head or co-head of household has a PERMANENT, severe physical disability and your household is very low income you may be eligible for placement on the lists. A separate application WILL be required for each placement desired. Applications can be obtained by calling: 910-826-4699 or by faxing 910-485-4341. Applications are not available online but can be mailed or emailed to those requesting them. Via mail or in person. Applicants will be placed on the desired list(s) as per date and time stamp received. Abilities, Inc. of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. CUMBERLAND TOWERS BARTON'S LANDING BRIARCLIFFE APARTMENTS Applications can be returned to: Abilities | 600 Ames Street | Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301