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Davie officials approve budget
Schools will get $665,034 increase
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Published: June 2, 2009
MOCKSVILLE - Davie County commissioners unanimously approved a $48 million budget last night that lowers the tax rate to 62 cents for every $100 of assessed value.
A property owner with a $100,000 home would pay $620 in county property taxes. The property-tax rate came down from 66 cents for every $100 of assessed value to make up for the higher property values that residents will see from the recent county revaluation. Property values went up an average of 6 percent from 2005, the last time the county had a revaluation.
One resident who spoke during the public hearing said he would like to see commissioners do more to cut spending and decrease the tax burden on county residents.
"No government should be in the business to make money," said Bill Foust, a member of the Davie Citizens for a Responsible Government.
Under the new budget, Davie County Schools will get a $665,034 increase.
Sheriff Andy Stokes will get $138,365 more for the jail and the sheriff's office. County Manager Beth Dirks said $83,000 of that will pay for new equipment to control the cameras, locks and doors of the jail. The money would also be used to reclassify a captain position into a chief deputy position, she said.
The budget includes no cost-of-living salary increases for employees. It also does not include any increase in county fees and utility rates.
The budget does include $136,800 for a new heating and air system for the Brock Performing Arts Center in Mocksville and $235,000 for a new roof, windows and heating and air controls for the county administration building.
About $180,000 is in the budget to pay for making the part-time EMS crew in the Jerusalem area of the county full time.
Commissioners decried the state budget crisis and its impact on local governments.
"The state is in trouble and that's going to translate into trouble for us," Commissioner Ron Hoth said.
Commissioner Ken White agreed, saying that the county will have to buckle down on its spending if it has to deal with cuts passed on by the state.
"There are no sacred cows," White said.
■ Michael Hewlett can be reached at 727-7326 or at mhewlett@wsjournal.com.
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