GARLAND — Although a few financial matters such as the fire department are still up in the air, town leaders are set to move forward with plans for the budget.
The public hearing for the 2017-18 budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at Town Hall, 190 S. Church Ave. Garland regular board meeting will follow.
Commissioners and Garland officials plan to have expenditures and revenues of more than $841,000. Town Clerk and Finance Officer Pamela Cashwell presented the financials to the commission during a special meeting earlier this week.
For residents, the tax rate will currently remain the same at 72 cents per $100 valuation.
The budget is made up of the general fund, $497,000; water/sewer fund, $296,000; and Powell Bill Fund, $48,020.
In the general fund one of listed highlights was police department expenditures, which are projected at $101,375 due to startup cost. For 2016-2017 the last budget session, expenditures was $16,970.
A contract with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Department came to an end last summer, after a request was made for additional funding of $113,000. As a result, Garland commissioners made a decision to finance their own.
An ongoing matter in the general fund is the Garland Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department. The department requested $25,000. As of Tuesday, only $11,000 is budgeted which is the same as 2016-17.
“I know that up in the air as far as negotiations,” Cashwell said.
The fire department sent a letter to town officials requesting more funds. It included possible actions such as ending a contract with the town.
Some of the others of the general fund includes building fund maintenance and repairs ($38,100); and streets and highway expenditures ($79,050).
After the presentation, Mayor Winifred Murphy made a request for her colleagues to go over compensation for commissioner participation. The matter was discussed at previous meetings in the absence of Carolyn Melvin, who plans to resign and focus on her nursing career.
“It will probably be important if we have it stated in our budget message,” Murphy said.