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Dillsboro submits 'trim' budget

By Rose Hooper

"With the state budget shortfalls we faced this year, we have prepared a 'trim' budget," Dillsboro Mayor Jean Hartbarger told her board Monday.

The board approved the $75,872 budget proposed to them and set a hearing for public review at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25.

No capitol improvements are planned for the town in fiscal year 2002-03.

The main expenses are $15,120 for salaries; $6,600 for utilities; $6,340 for parks and recreation; $5,200 for insurance; $4,541 for streets, sidewalks and sanitation repair and maintenance; $4,000 professional fees; $3,000 contribution to the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department; $2,900 water payment for board members; $2,887 economic development fee; $3,250 annual audit; $2,120 contribution to the Merchants Association; and $2,500 in supplies.

Revenues, which total $78,213, come from ad valorem taxes, $46,500; local option sales taxes, $20,100; Powell bill fund, $6,793; Privilege tax collections, $2,120; cable television franchise fee, $1,250; rental fees, $900; launch park fees, $200; traffic citations, $125; and zoning permits, $100.

"Tourism is our No. 1 draw in the county and research shows that Dillsboro is the county's biggest draw," said board member Emma Wertenberger.

"That's why we can't understand why the Travel and Tourism Authority has cut back its hours of operation in Dillsboro," said Dillsboro merchant Susan Leveille.

The office has cut back its hours from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Previously it had been open from 9 a.m until 4 p.m. Board members asked Hartbarger to develop a proposal to submit to TTA illustrating why and how the office should expand its hours of operations.

Hartbarger reminded the board of the Tuckasegee Cooperative Stakeholder Team meeting set Thursday, June 20, at the Duke Power/Nantahala Area Office in Franklin. According to the agenda, the Dillsboro dam is to be a topic of discussed at 1:15 p.m. The future of the dam will also be discussed during a public meeting that night from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Jackson County Justice Center.

The next regular Dillsboro Town Board meeting will be Monday, July 8, at 6 p.m.

Back to Archive: 06/13/02.