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Raeford council adopts $5.67 million 2020-21 budget; approves grant-funded radios and audit contract
Summary
The Raeford City Council on June 8 approved the FY2020-2021 budget totaling $5,668,384, set the property tax rate at $0.48 per $100 valuation, and authorized grant-funded purchases of 800 MHz radios for the fire and police departments and an audit contract. Several related budget amendments and an agreement with NCDOT were also approved.
The Raeford City Council voted unanimously on June 8 to adopt the FY2020-2021 Budget Ordinance, approving $5,668,384 in General Fund appropriations and setting the property tax rate at $0.48 per $100 valuation. Council action followed a brief public hearing that drew no comments.
City Manager Dennis Baxley presented the manager's recommended changes before the vote: removal of a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment, a merit range of 1%–2%, restoration of a 5% 401(k) contribution for regular employees (law enforcement is statutorily set at 5%), and an additional $2,500 for Economic Development sponsorships. Councilman Robert Conoly moved to adopt the recommended adjustments; the motion carried unanimously.
The council approved several budget amendments and grant-funded purchases as part of consent business. Amendment #16 appropriated $49,600 to purchase 800 MHz radios for the Raeford Fire Department, funded by an Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) restricted grant of $24,800 and $24,800 from unassigned fund balance. Amendment #17 appropriated $37,000 for 800 MHz radios for the Raeford Police Department, funded by a Governor's Crime Commission Byrne JAG award (state restricted grant $35,000) and $2,000 from unassigned fund balance. Amendment #18 made minor general fund reallocations and added a $37,000 debt-service principal appropriation to the Water/Sewer Fund.
Council also approved an audit contract with Haigh, Byrd & Lambert, LLP for $24,000 and, contingent on NCDOT approval, entering a reimbursement agreement with NCDOT plus an engineering agreement with LKC Engineers for project R-5709 (Hwy 211 widening), which will require relocation of city water and sewer lines located in the project footprint. Copies of executed agreements are to be kept on file.
Votes at a glance - Consent items IV.1–IV.8 (minutes, audit contract, NCDOT reimbursement agreement authorization, budget amendments #16–#18, tax releases, meeting cancellation and departmental reports): approved, motion by Councilman Charles Allen, second by Councilman Robert Conoly, result: unanimous. - Opened public hearing on proposed 2020-2021 budget: approved, motion by Councilman John Jordan, unanimous; no public comments. - Adopted manager's adjustments to proposed budget: approved, motion by Councilman Robert Conoly, unanimous. - Adopted FY2020-2021 Budget Ordinance (General Fund $5,668,384; Water & Sewer Fund $2,464,871; tax rate $0.48): approved, motion by Councilman Charles Allen, second by Councilman John Jordan, unanimous.
What the budget funds and next steps The approved General Fund appropriations list Police at $1,675,199, Streets $809,365, Sanitation $526,071, Fire $389,321 and dozens of departmental line items that collectively total $5,668,384. The ordinance states the tax levy is based on a total property valuation of $487,889,271 and an assumed collection rate of 97.62%. Copies of the adopted ordinance and budget amendments are to be furnished to the city clerk and budget and finance officers for implementation.
No direct public comment or citizen objections were recorded during the required public hearing; council actions as recorded in the meeting minutes were unanimous.
