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Martin County presents FY 2018-19 draft budget; tax rate held at $0.79
Summary
At a May 16 special session, Martin County staff reviewed the FY 2018-19 draft budget: property tax rate held at $0.79, small valuation increase, $2.7 million needed to balance using planned transfers, maintenance of several program funding levels and capital outlay priorities.
Martin County officials presented and discussed the draft FY 2018-19 budget during a special called session on May 16.
The draft holds the county property tax rate at $0.79 per $100 valuation while reporting a modest increase in total tax valuation from $1.7398 billion to $1.7578 billion. County Manager David Bone told the board the draft currently requires $2,718,594 to balance; staff proposed covering that gap with a $1,566,667 transfer from the Hospital Fund and a $1,151,927 transfer from Fund Balance, if the board approves those moves.
Key line items in the draft include approximately $100,000 for merit-based employee raises (up to 2%) but no cost-of-living increase; an added $90,088 for Bertie‑Martin Regional Jail to increase jail staff pay; a reduction in youth-detention funding from $90,000 to $70,000; a slight reduction for Martin‑Tyrrell‑Washington Health Department funding; maintenance of $244,447 for the Martin County Economic Development Commission (EDC); and inclusion of a $4,962 increase for the Beaufort‑Hyde‑Martin Regional Library.
The draft does not include a requested $1,851,794 allocation for a new shell building; the budget retains a previously budgeted $1 million for a proposed Career Technical Center that was not expended in FY 2017‑18. Capital outlay priorities listed include new body cameras, vehicle replacements for the Sheriff’s Office, landfill site work and a financial software module; building maintenance projects also appear in the plan.
County staff and commissioners commended the work but asked for additional follow-up on several items, including the history of Williamston ETJ water customers and alternative funding options for economic development projects. The board set a public hearing for the FY 2018-19 budget for June 13, 2018.
