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Proposed 2013 budget is realistic
$17.5M spending plan keeps level of services with no tax increase
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The county’s $17.5 million spending plan for 2013 is a “realistic” budget that holds the current tax rate and includes pay raises, according to John Grotheer, the county’s finance director.
He presented the proposed budget during a public hearing Thursday in the County Administrative Complex in Richmond Hill. Turnout for the hearing was small, with only commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed, County Administrator Phil Jones and Ed Bacon, former county commissioner and candidate for District 1, in attendance.
No action was expected during the public hearing. The commissioners will likely vote on the budget at their Nov. 13 meeting in the commissioner’s meeting room in Pembroke.
“This is a realistic budget — our goal is to remain stable during this (economic) downturn, and we’ve been very conservative,” Grotheer said. “We have a balanced budget.”
Grotheer said the proposed budget won’t require a tax increase and includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for county employees. The budget is based on a millage rate of 7.9 mills, he added.
“The commission and the county administrator are pleased with the dedication and commitment of the employees to sustain the same level of services that we had before with no increase in revenues,” Grotheer said. “So we’re very pleased with that.”
While the 2012 budget was around $18.6 million, that also included $1.3 million for the paving of Harris Trail Road, Grotheer said. Without that project, the 2012 budget was around $17.3 million, he noted.

Read more in the Nov. 3 edition of the News.

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