No property tax increases, 4-cent fire tax raise included in plan

TRYON — The town of Tryon has a new budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Tryon Town Council met Thursday and, after holding a public hearing, approved the new budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.

The budget includes no tax increases or water/sewer increases, but a 4-cent increase in its fire tax. The fire tax increase will be for both town residents and township residents, as the county also approved the 4-cent increase.

The town’s general fund is for a total of $1.54 million, including $74,033 for the governing board, $517,477 for administration, $656,609 for the police department and $294,967 for the street department. 

The Powell Bill fund, which is state funding for street improvement, is budgeted at $80,000.

The town’s tourism development fund has a budget of $20,000, while the sanitation fund is $218,000; the water/sewer fund is $1.63 million; the fire department is $494,729 and Harmon Field is $179,500.

Council heard from Town Manager Zach Ollis regarding the budget ordinance prior to its approval.

Ollis said there are cost-of-living adjustment raises for employees budgeted next year, the town has put money away for its capital improvement plan and is also taking care of the clarifiers at the wastewater treatment plan. The budget also includes money in the water/sewer fund to hire a public works position. Ollis said the town is investing in new software for water distribution.

“Overall, the budget has not changed greatly compared to last year,” said Ollis. “It accomplishes the same goals.”

Ollis also said the budget allows for modest growth, with property tax revenues budgeted at $768,000 for next year.

“So, we’ve made small adjustments across the board when it comes to revenues and small adjustments across the board when it comes to expenditures,” Ollis said. “Overall, you provide the same services and you do so without raising taxes.”

During the public hearing, Tryon resident Wim Woody said the town is saying no tax increases but the town and county are increasing the fire tax by 4 cents. He asked if that means the taxes will go up.

Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples answered that the taxes for the fire department will go up, but not the general fund taxes.

“Even though we have no tax increase, we pay more,” Woody said.

Commissioner Crys Armbrust asked about the budget for the town’s occupancy tax, as the county is in the process of creating a joint tourism development authority with Tryon and Saluda.

Ollis said he budgeted the funding just in case the county TDA did not occur. Ollis said he is unaware of the date the agency will be formed, but was informed the bill was presented to the North Carolina House.

“We, at present, have approximately $40,000 in revenues in the checking account for Tryon tourism, and I want to make certain that that $40,000 is not sent to Polk County tourism,” Armbrust said. “It stays in Tryon and is reassigned as necessary.”

Ollis responded that the town’s current balance will stay in Tryon.