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Tuesday, 13 June 2006 20:00 |
By DAVID FORBES
The newly proposed Buncombe County budget drew criticism from county residents, who assert that it imposes too high a tax burden ?? and from Sheriff Bobby Medford, who attacked a memo attached to the budget that raises the possibility of laying off several deputies, at a June 6 public hearing before the county Board of Commissioners.
While the recommended budget does lower the property tax rate from 59 cents on every $100 to 54.5 cents, it also comes in a year when property revaluations judged the value of commercial and residential property in the county to have risen an average of 45 percent.
In a presentation last month, County Manager Wanda Greene suggested that the commissioners go no lower than the recommended rate.
A
revenue-neutral rate, which would bring the same amount of revenue into
the county??s coffers as last year, plus additional growth, would be
50.25 cents. The proposed budget for the City of Asheville includes
such a rate in an attempt to not increase the tax burden.
However, commissioners?? Chairman Nathan Ramsey said that important
budget needs for county schools, fire departments, increased Medicaid
costs and other public services mean that the county cannot afford to
adopt a revenue netural rate.
?®The budget the county manager presented is a challenge,?∆ Ramsey said.
?®It??s a tax increase ?? no doubt about it ?? and I don??t think anyone on
our board is happy about that. We realize it doesn??t meet that
revenue-neutral target ?? we realize that because of circumstances, we
can??t do that.?∆
But county residents speaking during the public hearing said that the
tax rate will place an increased ?? and in some cases, heavy ?? burden on
many of them.
Keith Gibbons, who owns property in Fairview, said that the proposed
tax rate will only make things harder on those already struggling.
?®I??ve heard a lot of things here about budgets and expense ?? I know it
takes a lot to run things these days,?∆ Gibbons said. ?®But what about
these people that have lost their jobs or are on minimum wage? What if
they have property? Their property tax has just accelerated. What are
they supposed to do. Have you got an answer? If so, I??d like to hear it
?? and so would they.?∆
Moreover, Gibbons said, such a tax increase will hit the elderly ?? many of whom live on fixed income, the hardest.
?®I know one couple out in Fairview who just got a $1 million
evaluation,?∆ Gibbons said. ?®They??re both retired and their property tax
just went up. Another friend of mine owns seven acres that??s been in
his family since the Civil War. He just got a $1 million evaluation,
too. How is he going to pay that? He??s already just barely making it.
?®We don??t need to put these people out of their homes ?? we??ve got enough homeless already.?∆
Meanwhile, Alan
Green, who owns property in Black Mountain, also said that the new
property tax rates will be hard for many to meet.
?®A lot of these properties have just skyrocketed ?? mine went up 142
percent,?∆ Green said. ?®Most of the property in Black Mountain went up
45 percent. Previously, I had to set aside about $140 a month just to
meet my property taxes at the end of the year. That??s like having to
pay rent or make another house payment. With the present assessment,
I??m looking at paying $3,000 a year on my property ?? and I work, I??ve
got a good job.?∆
The fate of his elderly mother, he said, is a concern with the new rates.
?®She??s looking at this and is asking how she can pay it,?∆ Green said.
?®She only lives off Social Security. There??s a lot more people in that
boat. I question how that assessment was made. Let??s find some way to
get a break here. We need the money for these services ?? but something
has to happen. Look at that 45 cents per $100 should still give the
county $1.3 million more than last year. Please, give us a break.?∆
County resident Jim Eller said that he understands the county??s budget
needs ?? but that its rates are unreasonable ?? and that the county can
find ways to save money.
?®Yes, things are bad. Yes, people need money,?∆ Eller said. ?®Before you
vote on this, go to the Asheville Citizen-Times and tell them what the
arson task force is and why it needs $5,000 more. What about this
$20,000 for planning? I want to know what we??re going to get out of
that. You??re increasing Asheville-Buncombe community relations 70
percent. Why? Where??s this going to go.
?®Maybe we can get advertisers to sponsor the 211 informational
service,?∆ Eller said. ?®Why isn??t The Health Adventure going to UNC
Asheville and working with them instead of asking us for money? Use
some creativity and save the taxpayers some money.?∆
In separate remarks, Medford said that he was angry at a memo attached
to the budget that suggests that 11 sheriff??s deputies are serving no
real function and may be a target for budget cuts. The removal of the
deputies, who do not work in patrols or investigations, would save the
county around $750,000.
The memo was circulated in an e-mail from Greene that was sent that afternoon.
?®I didn??t come here to ask for anything,?∆ Medford, who is currently
running for re-election, said. ?®I??m really upset about this memo to the
county commissioners that says there are 11 deputies that do nothing.
It suggests that we cut those 11 positions. About every four years I
get this ?? but hold it against me, not the deputy sheriffs.?∆
Also, Medford asserted, the sheriff??s department has made sacrifices ?? including financial ones ?? to keep costs low.
?®Since I??ve been sheriff, I??ve gotten over $2 million in grants and
turned in over $2 million to the county budget,?∆ Medford noted. ?®Right
now, these guys are carrying guns and risking their lives for $31,500 a
year.
?®Folks, this memo ... I do appreciate what you do, you know what I need
?? I think it??s a damn shame this memo ever reached the county
commissioners?? office,?∆ he said.
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