Sylva leaders adopt budget, stay with current trash hauler

By Lynn Hotaling

Sylva's $1.62 million budget for fiscal year 2002-03 holds the line on taxes while giving town employees a 3 percent cost-of-living wage increase.

No one spoke at the public hearing that preceded the town board's special meeting.

Board members were able to avoid a tax increase and raise salaries despite the loss or anticipated loss of more than $200,000 in state funds. Some $206,163 normally acquired from utility franchise taxes, wine and beer taxes, intangibles tax, business inventory tax, food stamp reimbursement and homestead exemptions is not included in the budget, according to Sylva town Manager Richard McHargue.

Sylva's budget uses money from the town's fund balance to replace uncertain revenues rather than turning to a tax increase to make up the difference. A total of $87,558 will be transferred from the town's fund balance to make up the shortfall, leaving some $414,442 in the general fund, said McHargue.

That balance is 25.5 percent of the town's general fund, which is more than triple the N.C. Local Government Commission's required 8-percent minimum.

Sylva's property tax rate will remain steady at 40 cents per $100 valuation, which means a town resident pays $200 in taxes on a home valued at $50,000.

Turning their attention to a solid waste contract, board members voted to stay with Country Collections Corp., their current hauler. Sylva officials unanimously approved a five-year contract drafted by town attorney Eric Ridenour that provides a clear "out" for the town should Country Collections' service prove unsatisfactory or should the town decide to perform in-house trash collection, said McHargue.

Country Collections will provide garbage and recycling collection to the town's 1,000 households for the current rate of $4.89 per household per month ($4,890/month) during the first year. Rates will increase by 10 cents per household each succeeding year.

Rival hauler GDS of Hendersonville offered to provide the same service for $6,87 per household ($6,870/month).

Sylva's board will next meet Thursday, July 11, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Back to Archive: 06/27/02.