City Council’s public hearing on proposed budget is Tuesday

Published 12:10 am Monday, June 1, 2015

By David Purtell

By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

Salisbury City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015-2016.

The budget, which can be viewed online at the city’s website, calls for a slight property tax increase of 1.49 cents that would bring the city’s tax rate to 67.18 cents per $100 of valuation. Last year, council approved a budget with a 1.95 cent rate increase.
City officials say they have to make up for the loss of $320,000 in annual revenue due to the expiration of the business privilege license tax.
Water and sewer fees are not being increased, but tap fees for Salisbury-Rowan Utilities are.  The residential stormwater fee is increased 75 cents to $5 a month in the proposed budget.
The monthly rates for Fibrant video (TV) packages are being raised in order to keep up with increasing costs from providers, according to city officials. The increases range from 6 percent to 18 percent depending on the package.
The budget includes a 2.5 percent average merit pay increase for city employees and the hiring of a new Parks and Recreation Director, which the city has not had for a couple of years. And there is $78,000 set aside for police equipment: bulletproof vests, radar units and Tasers.

Council meets Tuesday at 4 p.m. at City Hall. Council will hold a workshop on the budget June 8 at 9 a.m. at 1 Water Street — an office of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.

One thing not on council’s agenda is a proclamation regarding the annual Salisbury Pride Festival later in June. The festival is meant to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In 2011, former mayor Susan Kluttz issued a proclamation marking the day of the festival as LGBT pride day. But Mayor Paul Woodson has not issued the proclamation in his first three years in office due to the city’s guidelines for mayoral proclamations, which states proclamations regarding controversial issues will not be made.

The issue came to the forefront May 19 when members of Salisbury Pride publicly asked Woodson to make the proclamation. Woodson said Friday he has received hundreds of emails and phone calls from people on both sides of the debate and that the issue is the most controversial one he has faced in his 18 years on council.

Woodson said he and other council members are working to find a solution.

In other business Tuesday, council will:

• consider applying for a brownfields agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources for an assessment of the Kesler Mill site on North Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Last year, the city received $400,000 worth of grants from the Environmental Protection Agency for assessments — checking for soil contamination from hazardous materials — of brownfield sites.

The mill site is a high priority site for the city. The city will apply as the potential developer in the agreement, though it will not be obligated to clean up and develop the site, according to a note in council’s agenda packet. Testing is expected to begin in July.

• consider a request for an encroachment over a public alley located at 118 West Innes St. in accordance with Sections 22-18 and 22-19 of the city code. This involves an exhaust fan being installed on the exterior of the building that used to house Sweet Meadow Cafe and is now Maracas’ Cuban Cafe. The opening of the restaurant has been delayed so improvements to the building’s ventilation system can be made.

• recognize the Salisbury Youth Council for receiving its charter at the state Youth Council Conference and receive a brief update regarding yearly progress.

• consider appointments to various boards and commissions.

• Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Salisbury Citizen’s Academy. The academy is a 10-week program that meets each Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 10. Participants will meet at various city facilities and have an inside view of city operations. Applications are available online or by calling the city clerk’s office at 704-638-5224. Applications must be received by July 17.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.

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