Increase likely to add around $3 a month to a user’s bill
By Tom Woerner
Dunn Daily Record
ANGIER – Angier town officials spent more than an hour discussing the budget for the upcoming year, Tuesday night, before deciding to increase water and sewer bills by more than 6%.
Hicks told board members the rate for water charged by Harnett County increased by approximately 15% and the rate for treatment of sewage went up by 19.5%.
Commissioner Junior Price said that is the main reason for the increase passed on to the residents of Angier.
“The county is doing it to us and now we have to do it to our citizens,” Price said.
Commissioner Alan Coats also blamed Harnett County officials.
“The county started this and now we have to deal with it,” Coats said. “There is no way our citizens can deal with this kind of increase.”
Hicks told commissioners the 25% increase would have added approximately $10.15 to the average family’s water bill if they use approximately 5,000 gallons of water a month.
The approved increase will add less than $3 to the average family bill if the family uses 5,000 gallons.
Tax rate unchanged
The tax rate for the town will remain at 49 cents for every $100 of property value under the approved budget.
The approximately $7 million spending plan originally contained a 4% cost of living increase for town employees.
“We have never given that much during my time on the board,” Coats said. “It seems like a lot to me.”
That number was debated and the final budget contained a 3% raise for all employees, which will be spread throughout the year. Employees will get a 1.5% raise immediately and another 1.5% increase in January.
The raise does not include the salary the town’s commissioners earn for their work.
The budget outlines funding for a new farmer’s market, two new police officers, money to continue work on a sidewalk project on Junny Road and improvements to old playground equipment at Jack Marley Park.
Two residents spoke on the budget during the public hearing section of the meeting.
“We can’t keep tolerating these increases,” former Commissioner Mike Hill said. “It is getting to the point some of our people can’t even afford to live.”
He said he intends to express his opinion at the ballot box.
“Harnett County is socking it to us and I intend to vote against every person who supports these increases,” he added.
Local developer Donald Gregory also spoke, asking commissioners to carefully consider the rate increase.
“Twenty-five percent is a big increase for our citizens,” Gregory said.
New police department
In other action, the board approved putting a new police department building out for bidding for local contractors. The police department will be built on the land the town purchased at the corner of McIver and Broad streets. The site is currently a vacant lot.
The current police department is an antiquated facility that is part of the town hall property.
