In his report to the Rockingham City Council on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, City Manager Monty Crump has proposed no tax increase for city property owners.
Rockingham’s current tax rate is .48 cents per $100 of valuation, and has been that rate since the 2003-2004 budget year.
The proposed 2013-14 Fiscal Year Budget, prepared by Crump, Finance Director Hazel Tew and staff, calls for keeping the city’s tax rate right where it is.
This information is included in a report being presented to city council, along with the voluminous proposed budget, at its next regular meeting. The City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the council chambers at City Hall, at 514 Rockingham Road, Rockingham.
“The proposed tax rate of .48 is the same as prior year, therefore, no tax increase is proposed,” Crump wrote in his report.
The proposed general fund budget for 2013-14 amounts to $9,118,302, an increase of $259,378 over the 2012-13 general fund budget of $8,858,924.
“The primary goal for 2013/2014 is to continue to provide the same level of services to our citizens and customers as current year in a cost effective and efficient manner. The FY 2013/2014 Budget provides for the continuation of all city services at the same level and maintains all current levels of personnel,” Crump wrote to the council.
The proposed budget shows a total of 131 full-time positions fully funded for the coming fiscal year. “For the second time in four years the proposed 2013/2014 Budget contains a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for city employees in the amount of 2 (percent),” wrote Crump.
As an action item at Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council will be asked to set a date and time for a 2013-14 budget work session and planning retreat.
Also at the meeting, the council will hold a public hearing on a request to rezone approximately 2.14 acres located at 156 Bateman Street, from Highway Business (B-3) to Residential Mill Village (R-7A).
The rezoning request is from Anthony James Sidoti, according to a staff report. The subject property consists of two lots. Sidoti’s residence is on one lot and the other lot is vacant. Sidoti wants to give the vacant lot to his daughter for a home site, but the current B-3 zoning will not allow for single-family residential use.
The report notes that the subject property is the only land on Bateman Street zoned B-3. All other properties with frontage on Bateman Street are zoned R-7A.
The previous owner of the property repaired vehicles in a building behind the residence located on the property, the report said. This may explain why the subject property is zoned B-3. The vehicle repair operation no longer occurs on the property, the report said.
According to staff, the proposed zoning is consistent with the current character of the surrounding area.
In other matters on the agenda, the council is expected to:
• Hear a presentation of the 2013 Strategic Plan for Richmond County: Vision 2020, by Kenneth Robinette, chairman of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, along with Dale McInnis, president of Richmond Community College.
• Consider a request from the Town of Dobbins Heights for Rockingham to donate a surplus pick-up truck to the municipality for use in doing small jobs throughout the town.
• Review a list of upcoming board appointments.
• See Mayor Steve Morris proclaim Saturday, May 25, 2013, as a day to honor our deceased veterans, in conjunction with Memorial Day ceremonies and observances.
— Editor John Charles Robbins can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 13, or by email at jrobbins@civitasmedia.com.
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