After six weeks of discussion and a clash of opinions, viable compromises were made, and the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year budget was passed by the Walnut Cove Board of Commissioners.

Issues of contention ranged from giving a one and half percent raise to city employees, imposing an increase to the current garbage rate, adjustments to the water and sewer fund and how to best spend the city’s revenue.

On May 25, a public hearing was held and citizens shared their concerns. A week later the Board of Commissioners requested the town manager modify the proposed budget by cutting $20,000. The cuts would eliminate beautification projects, building improvements, $3,000 from the Police Department to purchase equipment, raises for city employees, a garbage rate increase and 20 percent of the Events budget which includes the Fourth of July celebration, festivals and the Christmas parade.

Mayor John Hodgkin said, “I want the board to understand that I believe this is not a well-advised plan. I’d ask that this budget be reconsidered.”

Hodgkin recalled two years ago when roof damage occurred at Town Hall, and it was necessary to dip into reserved funds. Hodgkin also cited that each year, costs continue to rise at an estimated three percent, but the proposed budget didn’t reflect those changes.

“This plan is so barebones that if someone flushes their toilet an extra 10 times, we’ll be over budget,” Hodgkin bluntly said.

Commissioner Charles Mitchell agreed that continuing to trim the budget was dangerous and suggested the board look into new ways to bring more revenue into the town.

Mayor Hodgkin, visibly frustrated, explained that if the budget continued to be cut, the next step would have to be significant. The board of commissioners would need to consider cutting a job.

When the garbage rate adjustment was brought up again by Commissioners Sharon Conaway and Lora Carter, Mayor Hodgkin reiterated the point that it was subsidized and that the town was not generating substantial revenue from it.

Town Manager Homer Dearmin added, “We keep putting band-aids on the big issues.”

Mayor Hodgkin contended the water and sewer is a “tremendous problem.” He shared with the board of commissioners that he walks every morning and there isn’t an area where he doesn’t see evidence of leaking pipes.

“It’s going to require a lot of money to fix,” he stated, “and I know no one wants to pay more, but it’s better than waking up one morning with no water.”

Commissioner Polly Goolsby agreed that there are problems in Walnut Cove, but they couldn’t possibly be solved in one year’s budget.

“Maybe I’m watching a different news channel or listening to another radio station than you all. But from what I see, there are a lot of people suffering right now. We can do a little at a time, but not all at once,” Goolsby said.

Mayor Hodgkin reminded the board of commissioners that Dearmin had already gone back to the drawing board and carved out $20,000 from the proposed budget the week before.

“I don’t know where it’s going to end,” Mayor Hodgkin said frankly.

The board of commissioners discussed the water and sewer revenue. Conaway detected elements of the budget that weren’t adding up.

“You can punch the calculator all night long but the fact is we can’t afford to ignore these problems,” Mayor Hodgkin said.

The numbers proved to be off marginally, and a motion was made to approve the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year budget. The budget passed, and the board of commissioners noted that they would continue to monitor the plan closely in the following months.

The 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Budget is available for review at http://townofwalnutcove.org/.