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Town manager reports FEMA requests, tax and Main Street program figures
Summary
Town Manager Brantley Price reported FEMA requests for more detailed quotes, tax collections at 96.8% of the levy, sales tax up 7% year-over-year, 1,000 visitors to Paddy Mountain trail in May, and Main Street program metrics including $377,452,000 in private investment statewide for FY23-24; no formal action was taken on these updates.
Town Manager Brantley Price delivered a multi-part report at the June 2 meeting covering FEMA project status, local revenue numbers, Main Street program outcomes and upcoming events.
FEMA and infrastructure: Price said FEMA has requested more detailed quotes for culverts and water points tied to local projects; category B force-account labor has been approved and video inspection of a sewer line was accepted by FEMA (no dollar amounts for the culvert or water-point quotes were provided in the transcript).
Revenue and visits: The town has collected 96.8% of the levy to date. Sales tax for the period is up 7% from the previous year and up 5.6% year-to-date. Price reported 1,000 visitors to the Paddy Mountain trail during May.
Main Street program summary: Price summarized statewide Main Street program impacts for FY 2023-24 as recorded in his report: $377,452,000 in private investment, 293 rehabbed buildings, 360 façade improvements, 375 net gains in businesses, 2,461 net gains in full- and part-time employment, and 131,986 volunteer hours. For West Jefferson specifically he reported 2 facades redone, four buildings rehabbed, two net businesses gained, approximately 14 full-time jobs and 15 part-time jobs, $43,000 in public investment, roughly $550,000 in private investment, and 1,530 volunteer hours.
Other items: Price noted Blue Ridge Energy capital credits received totaling $11,800, that the Blue Ridge Parkway suffered 57 landslides during Helene and that 134 of 252 miles in North Carolina had reopened. He also noted a June 14 protest by No Kings and a July 4 fireworks event planned on the hill between town and the Walmart.
No board action or motions were recorded on these report items during the meeting; they were presented for information.
