(June 1, 2017) The Pocomoke City Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at City Hall last Monday.
Budget draft
The council reviewed an updated draft of the fiscal year 2018 operating budget, which City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot said factors in recommendations made during a special budget work session on May 12.
“That recommendation was to increase the waste disposal fee – the trash fee – from $10 to $15,” he said.
The higher fee will generate an additional $80,000 in revenue, Crofoot said.
Another suggestion, to budget the Winter Quarters Golf Course for six months instead of an entire year, was also incorporated into the draft.
“We took all the golf course items in half,” he said.
The fiscal year 2018 budget estimates overall revenue of approximately $4.83 million, down slightly from the expected fiscal year 2017 revenue total of roughly $4.89 million.
The proposed budget is scheduled for a public hearing on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Tax Rates
The council voted unanimously to approve property tax rates for fiscal year 2018 on second reading. The figures remain unchanged from the current fiscal year with residential rates set at $0.9375 per $100 of assessed value and $1.13 per $100 of assessed value on other real property. Personal property and ordinary business corporations (which excludes manufactured and commercially assessed inventory) will be taxed at a rate of $2 per $100 assessed. Also public utilities will be taxed at $2.40 per $100 assessed, while equipment used in manufacturing is set at $1 per $100 assessed.
American Legion birthday
Mayor Bruce Morrison read a proclamation in honor of the 85th birthday of the American Legion Post 93 in Pocomoke City and declared May 29 to be American Legion Day.
There to accept the honor was legion member Gene Mason, who said more than three million military service members have joined the American Legion since it was formed in 1919. The Pocomoke branch was established in 1932.
“We have 120 men who fought for you and I,” Mason said. “For 2016 [the post] gave $31,638 to the town of Pocomoke and Worcester County.”
Mason also encouraged younger generations to consider joining the local branch of the American Legion.
“We’d be glad to have you,” he said. “The dues are $35 a year, which is very cheap.”
Old ambulance
The council voted to take ambulance A-1 permanently out of service, based on a recommendation from EMS Director Michael Thornton.
Crofoot said after nearly a decade on the road, the ambulance has piled up more than 225,000 miles. “It’s been out of service more times than it has been in service,” he said. “It has broken down while he’s (Thornton) been on runs.”
Luckily, none of those instances became critical, Crofoot said.
The council voted unanimously to declare the ambulance surplus and remove it from service.
Budget draft
The council reviewed an updated draft of the fiscal year 2018 operating budget, which City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot said factors in recommendations made during a special budget work session on May 12.
“That recommendation was to increase the waste disposal fee – the trash fee – from $10 to $15,” he said.
The higher fee will generate an additional $80,000 in revenue, Crofoot said.
Another suggestion, to budget the Winter Quarters Golf Course for six months instead of an entire year, was also incorporated into the draft.
“We took all the golf course items in half,” he said.
The fiscal year 2018 budget estimates overall revenue of approximately $4.83 million, down slightly from the expected fiscal year 2017 revenue total of roughly $4.89 million.
The proposed budget is scheduled for a public hearing on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Tax Rates
The council voted unanimously to approve property tax rates for fiscal year 2018 on second reading. The figures remain unchanged from the current fiscal year with residential rates set at $0.9375 per $100 of assessed value and $1.13 per $100 of assessed value on other real property. Personal property and ordinary business corporations (which excludes manufactured and commercially assessed inventory) will be taxed at a rate of $2 per $100 assessed. Also public utilities will be taxed at $2.40 per $100 assessed, while equipment used in manufacturing is set at $1 per $100 assessed.
American Legion birthday
Mayor Bruce Morrison read a proclamation in honor of the 85th birthday of the American Legion Post 93 in Pocomoke City and declared May 29 to be American Legion Day.
There to accept the honor was legion member Gene Mason, who said more than three million military service members have joined the American Legion since it was formed in 1919. The Pocomoke branch was established in 1932.
“We have 120 men who fought for you and I,” Mason said. “For 2016 [the post] gave $31,638 to the town of Pocomoke and Worcester County.”
Mason also encouraged younger generations to consider joining the local branch of the American Legion.
“We’d be glad to have you,” he said. “The dues are $35 a year, which is very cheap.”
Old ambulance
The council voted to take ambulance A-1 permanently out of service, based on a recommendation from EMS Director Michael Thornton.
Crofoot said after nearly a decade on the road, the ambulance has piled up more than 225,000 miles. “It’s been out of service more times than it has been in service,” he said. “It has broken down while he’s (Thornton) been on runs.”
Luckily, none of those instances became critical, Crofoot said.
The council voted unanimously to declare the ambulance surplus and remove it from service.