There was a resounding “NO” to increases that were part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget for the Town of Walnut Cove. At their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 1, the board of commissioners made it clear that they wanted the budget to be modified to include neither an increase in the fee for garbage pickup nor a pay raise for town employees.

Before the board made their wishes clear to Walnut Cove Town Manager Homer Dearmin, however, the public had a chance to speak out. Walnut Cove resident Barbara Grubbs told the board, “I hope in the last week you’ve had time to consider and reconsider. . .increases.”

Another Walnut Cove citizen, Nancy Duggins, spoke up to protest the proposed pay increase. She opined that town employees would probably say they were thankful for their jobs in this era when jobs are being lost all around.

Duggins also asked Dearmin what he meant when he says garbage fees must be increased because the town is currently paying for it. “We ARE the town,” she declared. She also advised him to listen to the board’s wisdom on matters.

Later in the meeting, Dearmin noted, “The budget presented, I feel, is very conservative.” He pointed out that the town’s tax rate has not been adjusted in several years, yet expenses keep going up.

The rate increase proposed for garbage service, he explained, “is not that big.” Dearmin estimated it at about $50-60 extra per year for town residents. He noted that other municipalities include garbage fees in the tax rate, but that Walnut Cove’s are separate.

“I realize that a rate increase is never popular,” Dearmin confessed, but he added that without increases, a police officer might have to be cut, for example.

Commissioner Sharon Conaway suggested that the town look at other alternatives, such as cutting the budget more in other areas. She stated that there had already been a 94 percent increase in the fees in the past few years.

“Taxpayers have been hit with a significant amount. . .during this difficult economic time,” Conaway stressed, adding that she didn’t feel the town should pass on increases to those taxpayers right now.

Dearmin’s argument was that former board members were not responsible in raising taxes while increases in gas, power, street light operation and other things have been steady.

Mayor John Hodgkin interjected, “If we defer it this year, it’s only exacerbating the problem for the next board and so on.” He clarified to Duggins that town citizens have indeed been paying for garbage service but not enough. Out of the $14 fee charged to the town per customer, he said, citizens pay only $10 of that.

Commissioner Polly Goolsby lamented, “Times are so hard. . .We shouldn’t ask so much of our citizens.” She commented on the proposed raises for town workers: “I really feel for the employees of this town. They work hard.”

Goolsby continued, however, that although she agrees that more and more has been put on the town, this is not the time to put those increased costs on the back of citizens.

Hodgkin argued that employees got pay cuts at the first of the year when they were forced to take on additional payments for insurance.

Conaway countered that many municipal governments are having to pass on benefits costs to employees. She noted that Stokes County teachers could be losing five days of pay if the shorter school year bill is passed.

“I’d like to give town employees an increase,” she said, but added that she thinks they understand the situation.

Dearmin explained that the raise for employees would only constitute about $7,500 per year at the most. The .75 percent across the board increase would be conjoined with a .75 percent increase for those employees that maintain a superior work record. He argued that the salary increase could help keep employees in Walnut Cove which would save on hiring and recruitment costs for new ones.

Goolsby spoke up, “I don’t think we have employees that will jump up and quit because of no raise.”

Conaway recommended cutting code enforcements to save money, noting that many town managers often do this work anyway.

Commissioner Charles Mitchell disagreed, saying that Walnut Cove has code enforcement issues and needs code enforcement to continue as is.

Dearmin explained that town employees have already had to take on increased duties and can’t take on code enforcement, too. He noted that the job entails more than just one day’s worth of work per week, as Conaway had stated. Dearmin said it often consists of two to three days weekly and includes planning and zoning issues as well.

Mitchell also commented on the proposed rate increases, “If you want services, you gonna have to pay something. . .You just can’t get something for nothing. That’s the problem with America today.” He suggested having bi-monthly pickup and see if citizens mind.

Goolsby came back with the thought that what was wrong with America is that “we are a people who, if we get 50 cents in our pocket, we spend it.”

Commissioner Lora Carter commented that it was strange to her that Kiser’s Garbage Service, who handles the town’s pickup, has agreed not to raise prices for three years, but that the town wants to increase rates for citizens.

Hodgkin said he had heard not one complaint about the proposed increase. Goolsby countered that she had heard complaints.

Carter stated firmly that she would not vote for these increases. Conaway agreed with her. Goolsby said she was mainly against the garbage rate increase.

Dearmin asked if they wanted him to take back the proposed budget and look at it without the increased garbage fee and pay raise. The board answered yes.

The increase in water and sewer fees, however, was something that the board said they supported.

The new proposed budget will be discussed at a special meeting on Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Cove Senior Center.

The next regular meeting of the Walnut Cove Board of Commissioners is Tuesday, July 6, at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Cove Senior Center.