Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McDowell County commissioners advance budget motions: JCPC appointment, limit automatic stipend COLA, sales-tax ballot referral and $120 trash fee
Summary
At the June 8 meeting commissioners appointed William Chapman to JCPC, voted to remove the commissioners' stipend from automatic COLA, approved putting a one-quarter cent sales tax on the ballot, and approved a $120 per-household trash disposal fee (exemptions discussed). Staff also previewed a $7 vehicle fee and a 1% early-payment tax discount under consideration.
The McDowell County Board of Commissioners took several budget-related actions and heard staff budget briefings on June 8 as the county finalizes its proposed FY2027 budget.
Appointments and administrative approvals: The board suspended first reading and appointed William Chapman to a vacant seat on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) by unanimous voice vote. The board also approved listed administrative items and project/budget amendments (items described as GF68–80, DS1 SP5 and enterprise 5) as presented by staff.
Stipend and local revenue measures: Commissioners voted to remove the commissioners’ stipend from the automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment so the board must vote each year on any stipend increase. A commissioner successfully moved to place a one-quarter cent sales-tax question on the ballot for voter consideration to help address budget shortfalls.
Household trash fee: Commissioners approved a proposal to implement a $120 per-household trash-disposal fee; exemptions and income-based eligibility for the elderly and veterans were discussed without a full eligibility table set on the record. A commissioner said the fee was intended to help balance the budget while protecting lower-income residents through exemptions.
Staff briefing on other revenue options: County staff reviewed two other levers discussed in the budget workshop: a $7 vehicle fee and reducing the early-payment tax discount to 1% for payments in July and August. Staff said county reports show about 50,000 registered vehicles and that a $7 fee could be implemented beginning Jan. 1, 2027 if adopted; he warned that eliminating both the vehicle fee and the early-payment discount would create a roughly $352,000 gap the county would need to replace from other sources.
What’s next: Staff reminded commissioners that the FY2027 budget workshop continues and that a public hearing is scheduled for June 15 at 11:30 a.m.; the budget must be adopted by June 30. Commissioners requested additional materials, including a five-year sales-tax history to aid planning.
