The lazy, hazy days of summer are over. The tentative full agenda for the October 12th Town Meeting (7:30 p.m. at Town Hall) shows that activity has picked up. We will be dealing with several agenda items that are important to the Town, so I urge you to make your voice heard by coming to the Town meeting and participating in your local government.

Budget Review

The first waves of State revenue cuts to the Town anticipated in the September Landings have been made. State aid for highways and streets was reduced from $31,000 to $3,100 and State Police aid was reduced from an anticipated $20,000 to $14,080. Thus, State revenue cuts total $33,800. A possible second wave of State revenue cuts may be known by the October Town Meeting. Most other revenue sources are within budget estimates with the exceptions of interest income and income taxes, which are trending somewhat lower than budgeted. On the expense side, several cost items have come in under budget with further expense savings expected. I don’t wish to paint too dire a picture of our budget outlook, however, we should have a strategy in place should things get worse. Currently, we are holding back on going forward with $50,000 worth of capital improvements and purchases until later in the budget year when we will able to make more accurate budget estimates.

Parking Meter Rate Increase

A resolution increasing the parking meter rate to 50 cents per hour will be on the agenda for the October Town Meeting. Currently the Town charges 25 cents per hour while the County charges 75 cents per hour. Parking meter revenue for fiscal year 2009 was $23,168—an increase over past years, most likely due to the reopening of the Courthouse.

Fiscal Year 2009 Audit

Now for some good news. The FY09 audit has gone smoothly with final delivery of a “clean” audit expected by the end of October. The draft numbers, which we expect to be the final numbers, show a surplus for the fiscal year with each Department within its budget. The thirty-three page audit examines the Town’s finances from several different accounting points of view. For management purposes, I find the “Statement of Revenues and Expenditures Budget Actual-Non-GAAP Budgetary Basis General Fund” statement to be the most useful. It shows a $220,754 surplus for the year created by above budget revenues and lower that budgeted expenses. On the revenue side, above budget revenues from personal property taxes, income taxes and parking fines were the major contributors. On the expense side, the leading contributors were salaries/ benefits, waste disposal fees and unspent capital improvement funds.

Board of Supervisors of Elections

Under the terms of our Charter, during each odd numbered year the President must appoint, with Board approval, three members to the Board of Supervisors of Elections. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Yvonne Tucker/Chairperson, John McCauly and Allison Taylor to the Board. Subject to Board of Commissioners approval at the October meeting, the Supervisors will be then sworn in at the meeting. In many ways this is a thankless job, so we want to convey our appreciation to these residents for their time and dedication to the Town. Additional information on the upcoming election can be found on the reverse side of this website.

Rezoning

Judicial Review of County’s Rezoning in Town Over the Town’s objection, the County Council (sitting as the District Council) approved the rezoning of a residential property in Town from Residential R-80 to Commercial Office (C-O). After consultation with the Town’s attorney, we believe the Council did not approve the rezoning with the required six votes. The Board of Commissioners will consider authorizing a petition for judicial review at the October meeting.

SHA Revises Lines on Main Street

After numerous complaints and discussions with the Town, the State Highway Administration (SHA) revised the lineage on the west section of Main Street. It removed the private parking signs on the north side of the street, moved the center line to the north and placed side and barrier stripes on the north side. With parking no longer permitted on the north side on Main Street, vehicles including emergency, buses and trucks will no longer have to cross the double yellow line to pass through this section of Main Street. Thank you to the State Highway Administration.

Debt Policy

On the agenda for the October Meeting will be the adoption of a Town debt policy. The adoption of a debt policy is now required by the State. The Town’s authority to incur debt is governed by our Charter with the only apparent limitation being a cap on general obligation bonds. General obligation bonds are limited to 2% of the assessable base of real property located in the Town absent a referendum in which case the maximum is 10%. The debt policy adopts these limitations and others recommended in
examples set forth by the State.