Budget hearing is Wednesday

Published 10:11 am Thursday, June 8, 2017

A public hearing on the Farmville Town Council’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2017-18 budget will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the town council’s chambers in Town Hall on Main Street in downtown Farmville.

David Whitus

The council’s proposed $30 million operating budget includes a $519,000 surplus — the largest the town has ever seen, according to Mayor David E. Whitus.

The proposed budget also includes no tax or fee increases, according to town officials.

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“The proposed budget includes the largest surplus we have ever had,” said Whitus in a previous interview. “Appropriations for key services that help to ensure the safety of our residents are included in the proposed budget, including the Farmville Police Department, the fire department and 911 dispatch services, along with appropriations for programs, including parks and recreation.”

Regarding the budget surplus, town spokeswoman Kate Pickett Eggleston said “this does not include our cash on hand at the end of the year,” implying the surplus could potentially increase.

According to a summary of the proposed FY 2017-18 operating budget, revenues include $19.5 million for the town’s general fund, $1.9 million for the street maintenance fund, $2.2 million for the town’s water fund, $2.3 million for the town’s sewer fund, $1.4 million for the town’s transportation fund and $2.8 for the town’s airport fund.

Expenditures include $19.5 million for the town’s general fund, $1.9 for street maintenance, $2.2 million for the water fund, $2.3 for the sewer fund, $1.3 for the transportation fund and $2.8 for the airport fund.

The town’s newest tax — the cigarette tax — is projected to bring in $200,000 during the upcoming fiscal year.

Food taxes bring in the largest amount of revenue for the town’s coffers.

“It is projected that it will bring in $2,660,000 in 2017-18,” Town Spokeswoman Kate Eggleston said in a previous interview. “It is projected that in 2016-17, the food tax will bring in $2,515,000.”

“In addition to the assistant town manager position, the other anticipated staff position that is included in the proposed budget is for a position at the fire department,” Eggleston said.

Once selected, the new assistant town manager in Farmville could make up to $94,000 annually, according to a town-issued notice seeking applications for the new position.

The notice cites the hiring range for the position is between $90,680-$94,000.

According to Eggleston, funding for improvements at the South Main at Milnwood Road intersection is included in the proposed budget; “however, funding for the intersection of High/Oak/Griffin is not.”

The proposed fiscal year budget includes a 3-percent increase in funding for the Barbara Rose Johns Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, totaling $1,500 in additional proposed funds.

The budget also calls for continued funding of the Farmville Downtown Partnership of $60,000 for one year.