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Wrightsville Beach
Friday, March 29, 2024

Public hears final budget

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Affirmative actions are expected of aldermen as the Wrightsville Beach town board breezes through a short agenda during its monthly meeting Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m.

But first, the public is invited to weigh its comments during a trio of hearings. A proposed increase in water and sewer rates leads the discussion. The issue was raised by the board following staff research revealing the town’s rates ranked at the bottom of 400 water and sewer providers statewide. The increase is proposed to offset the costs associated with operating an independent system. Costs are estimated to increase $11 a month per average family household or a total of of $22 per billing cycle.

With no new taxes proposed, the town has shaved its FY 2013-14 budget by 3.1 percent or $300,000. The projected $10.2 million budget for FY 2014-15 is the topic of the second public hearing. A lighting ordinance text amendment will also be aired before proceeding to the regular agenda.

A reduction in fees paid by the town to Lanier Parking for its incentive management service is intended to prevent the contracted parking authority from benefitting unduly from an increase in hourly parking rates and fines. The resolution is expected to pass.

Also expected to pass is a proposed 10-year lease agreement with the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce Foundation to lease a portion of the visitors center location on West Salisbury Street in the historic Howell Cottage. Details of the lease agreement may be found on the town’s website, under board, agenda packet, item 7b.

A 12-year-old interlocal agreement between the Town of Wrightsville Beach and New Hanover County will be revisited. Negotiated in 2002, jurisdiction of dog ordinance enforcement at the north end were never finalized. Once formalized, the county ordinance may need tweaking to comply with the town. With the burden of enforcement having fallen on the town and the collected fines having been split, the agreement now proposes the town keep 100 percent of the fines going forward.

A discussion of water and sewer projects — some large scale and long term — are included in the FY 2014-15 budget while others will require the transfer of funds from the town’s capital improvement plan.

The board will adjourn for a closed session at the conclusion of its final agenda.

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