Blue Ridge Balances Budget, Changes Charter

News

At a Special December 20th Meeting, The Blue Ridge City Council adopted its 2012 Budget in addition to the city millage rate. Last week, the Council faced some challenges with the figures. However, after a few adjustments, it was able to present and adopt a balanced budget for the upcoming year. Looking forward, the Council also introduced and adopted several changes to the Charter’s ordinances.

According to the proposed budget, which was eventually adopted unanimously, the total expected revenue for 2012 is $2,038, 042. Through some minor adjustments, the City was able to match its projected expenditures to this number. The Council did not discuss any particular departments during yesterday’s meeting and the budget passed unanimously. Also, the City passed the millage rate. The rate did not go up from last year and remains 6.32 mils, which is based on 40 percent of the digest value.

In addition to adopting next year’s budget, the Council introduced a change to the Garbage Ordinance in the Charter. Water and Sewer Commissioner Rodney Kendell explained the amendment to the existing ordinance.

“Right now,” he said, “our ordinance has excluded bulk container garbage and this (change in ordinance) will get it in line with the household garbage,” adding, “instead of having 10 or 15 contractors running in and out of the City, we’ll only have one.”

This means that the ordinance is extended to include bulk container garbage, where, according to the ordinance change, the City will provide the receptacle or containers, which at times could include dumpsters. The ordinance also states that it has the authority to set the fees and pick-up schedule. In a current correspondence with FYN, Mayor Donna Whitener said that in the past, the City has

“lost some revenue in garbage companies going out of business (and) cutting back pick-up.”

Whitener also noted that currently, the City spends approximately $270,000 on garbage disposal.

The December 20th introduction the first reading of the ordinance, so no action was necessary and, as such, none was taken by the Council. According to City Administrator Bill Sowers, the ordinance will be voted on in January and is expected to be adopted at the Council’s regularly scheduled meeting. If passed, the ordinance will go into effect March 1, 2012.

The Council also passed another ordinance. The ordinance changes the health insurance plan of city employees, increasing the deductible from $500 to $1000, which according to the approved budget, seems to be allocated in a variety ways through out the budget. For instance, the cost of group insurance under General Administration shows a decrease from 2011’s amended budget, falling from $51, 588 to $40,172 in the 2012 budget. However, in the Police Department the group insurance cost is increased from the 2011 amended budget from $105,348 to $137,000. The Parks Department also showed an increase, from $30,324 to $45,000.

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