Smithfield residents and businesses would maintain the same property tax rate another year while increasing spending on streets and starting a major water plant expansion under a budget proposal from Town Manager Mike Scott.
The proposed 2018-2019 fiscal year budget keeps the ad valorem tax rate of 57 cents per $100 valuation, unchanged since 2004, while total general fund spending will increase nearly $1 million from $12.79 million this fiscal year to $13.74 million next year.
The spending proposal includes the purchase a new ladder truck and SUV for the fire department, 6 police cars, a dump truck for parks & recreation, a bucket truck for the electric department, leaf box truck and pickup for the street department, and a new pickup for the water and sewer department. The first payment on the ladder truck will not be due until the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
The budget includes a full time marketing position.
Funds are included for new playground equipment at Smith-Collins Park, new pool bleachers at the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center pool area, and funds to refurbish the basketball courts at Smithfield Community Park. $320,000 is set aside for street repaving and repairs, which is about equal to Powell Bills Funds the Town of Smithfield receives each year for street resurfacing projects.
Scott said the goal was to accelerate paving needs this year.
$15,000 is earmarked to make park areas more handicapped accessible. Another $15,000 is included to update park shelters.
The biggest capital project in the new budget is a $15.3 million expansion of the Smithfield Water Plant. The two year project will increase the water treatment capacity to allow additional sales to Johnston County. $12.05 million of the cost will be paid for with a low interest 20 year loan.
The average in-town utility customer will see water and sewer rates increase $5.50 per month and out-of-town customers will see an increase of approximately $7.00 per month. Garbage collection rates will remain unchanged.
No increase in electric rates are included in the budget, however Scott said ElectriCities is anticipating a wholesale rate increase around April 2019. The town council will have to decide at that time what, if any, rate increases will be passed onto consumers.
Town employees would see a three percent salary adjustment.
Scott called the budget “challenging” and said department heads did a good job meeting goals, while being good stewards of taxpayer money.
“The Smithfield Town Council continues its commitment to providing the citizens of Smithfield with the highest quality government services at the lowest cost possible,” Mayor Andy Moore told WTSB. “This year, we were able to double our street resurfacing projects, budgeting an additional $320,000 for these very necessary projects. Also, we budgeted over $1,000,000 in capital improvements to our water, sewer and electrical infrastructure, approved an expansion of our water plant, increased employee salaries by 3%, and added a new town marketing position, all while maintaining a General Fund savings balance in excess of 50%, and while maintaining our real property tax rate at the current level.”
“A lot of effort and long hours went in to developing the budget, and I am very proud of the support of the entire Council and the Town Manager throughout this process,” Mayor Moore said. “Our citizens should be pleased!”
The Smithfield Town Council will hold a public hearing on Scott’s spending proposal on Tuesday, June 5th at 7:00pm.
