SPRUCE PINE – The Spruce Pine Town Council approved its 2020-21 budget Monday, June 8, at its regular session.
According to Town Finance Manager Crystal Young, the budget for the general fund is approximately 1.2 percent more than last year, primarily due to the town obtaining a loan to purchase two maintenance vehicles, two police vehicles and the town’s contribution to the pedestrian bridge renovation.
The budget takes into account a potential 12.5 percent decrease in sales tax depending on how COVID-19 affects revenue. According to Young, this sales tax decrease could be less severe, however the state is projecting a five to 20 percent decrease, so she chose the median when forming the budget.
Other items in the general fund include a website and cemetery software for Town Hall, a skate rink for Main Street, a leaf and blower assembly for the street sweeper, new lighting for the Public Works building, restroom rehabilitation at Brad Ragan Park and paving at various locations.
There is a 12 percent decrease to Spruce Pine Main Street operations and a nearly nine percent increase in the funding for Library Operations.
“I am optimistic about the coming year and look forward to the benefits that our citizens will realize through the improvements the Town will make in 2020,” Young said.
Council Member Larry McKinney made a motion to adopt the budget, which was seconded by Council Member Jackie Rensink. The budget was approved unanimously by the council.
Prior to the budget summary and approval, a public hearing to discuss the budget was held.
Local residents Karen Bomar and Lynn Holler revealed they did not know the proposed budget was available to the public for two weeks prior to the meeting.
Mayor Harding and Town Manager Richard Canipe noted a news brief about the proposed budget had been in the Mitchell News-Journal for two weeks.
Both Bomar and Holler wanted to talk about funding in regard to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Canipe explained the town did not set any money aside in the proposed budget for COVID-19 related expenses, however, the town will be receiving $10,000 from the county once it receives nearly $500,000 in relief funding.
Holler commented on a lack of “transparency” because the council does not regularly post information on their website or Facebook page, including not posting the budget proposal online anywhere.
“Maybe in the future maybe you could post a link on the Facebook page or make it more convenient for people to see that there is a budget,” Holler said. “It seems a little bit like it’s kinda archaic the way you have to post it in the newspaper.”
Harding agreed they would try to post more information on their website and Facebook regularly.