No tax hike, but Glen Alpine taps savings as police shortage persists

After a week of discussion about police staffing and the town’s long-term financial outlook, Glen Alpine leaders have proposed a budget that would maintain the current tax rate while relying on about $50,000 in reserves to balance spending.

The proposed $1.5 million budget would keep the town’s 26-cent property tax rate and comes after two budget workshops held on Monday, June 1, and Friday, June 5. Town Administrator Crystal Carswell presented the draft budget Monday evening and held a public hearing, where one resident spoke. The proposal is scheduled for a vote on Monday, June 22.

The budget includes projected revenues that are $223,826 less than expenses. However, Carswell noted that the number is deceiving, as about $172,000 is money that had to be budgeted from an Asset Inventory and Assessment Grant and a grant for the fire department. Grant money has to be accounted for, but it’s money that’s received, not spent.

That leaves about $51,000 needed from the town’s fund balance reserves to fill the gap between revenues and expenses. The town’s fund balance reserves currently stand at about $1.6 million, down roughly $90,000 from the previous year.

The decision to use those funds came after board members debated whether the town should raise taxes rather than draw from its savings. In an unofficial show of hands during the June 5 workshop, board members Jason Miller and Sheila Perkins supported a tax increase, while Mayor Pro Tempore Luke Boone and board members Chad Wykle and Reid Scott opposed one.

“If this isn’t the year, then what is?” Miller asked, with Perkins adding that next year could be even harder on residents.

“We feel like right now is not the appropriate time,” Mayor Kevin Herron said. “We have a little bit in savings. We can hopefully buy some time where maybe the world, the economy will come back together again. Next year may be a little different, but then again, next year might be totally different.”

Boone said the town usually budgets conservatively and often finishes the year under budget, which he said will be the case this fiscal year. Carswell noted that the exact amount of any surplus won’t be known until the annual audit is completed.

POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET

The proposed budget also reflects the town’s ongoing struggle to expand police coverage with recruitment and retention issues.

At a proposed $594,426, the police department budget would not fund the six officer positions Chief Kirk Penley has said are necessary to achieve 24-hour coverage. Instead, the budget reallocates $27,000 from a vacant officer position and sets aside an additional $2,500 to recruit and train a Basic Law Enforcement Training candidate.

The department currently consists of Penley, Capt. Shane Trull, two officers, and one in the process of being hired. The town plans to start searching for a BLET candidate, with a requirement that the candidate work for Glen Alpine for at least two years after graduating from the program. It’s uncertain how quickly, if at all, the town will be able to recruit a candidate. During the budget workshops, Penley cited low pay as a challenge in both recruiting and retaining officers.

The proposed public works budget totals $395,670 and includes the purchase of a $15,000 off-road side-by-side vehicle. Glen Alpine resident Stanley Benedict, who was the only person to speak during the budget hearing, advocated for the public works employees being able to have a side-by-side vehicle and a rack for their equipment.

The administrative budget is projected at $375,790, with no raises for the mayor or board members, whose compensation will stay at $15,500. The volunteer fire department’s proposed budget is $170,782 and includes $39,000 for a new full-time employee stationed at town hall.

The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget at 10 a.m. June 22.

OTHER BOARD ITEMS:

DeAnna Boone, Glen Alpine resident and wife of Luke Boone, provided an update on how the town has been preparing to host Burke County’s America250 celebration with the annual July Fourth Parade. She encouraged all participants in the parade, not those watching, to fill out an entry form so that this year’s announcer can make introductions.

Board members approved $2,060 for the parts to fix the town clock, which was damaged after being struck by lightning.