Village of Walnut Creek issued the following announcement on Aug. 10.
As Budget Officer it is my responsibility to present the Village of Walnut Creek’s FY-21-22 Budget Estimate for approval. This estimate was derived using the existing historical revenues and expenditures along with estimates according to the annual report furnished by the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
Each of you has been afforded the opportunity to further provide input toward existing and new projects within the Village. We have solicited and received input from the Village Audit Committee, Planning Board, Lake Committee, and our Auditor. Updated information has been obtained from our various contractors and service providers. In addition, we have continued to strive to achieve the vision of our Village as well as comply with the complex requirements of federal and state mandated programs.
The FY-21-22 Budget Estimate for all funds is $1,804,650.00. The effective tax rate for the Village of Walnut Creek will remain at $.42 per $100 of value. This rate does include $.0600 per $100 of value being payable to Elroy VFD.
This year’s Budget of FY-21-22 is organized by Departments as follows:
The General Fund is made up of the following departments:
- General Government ($698,281.00)
- Administration Budget of $464,316.00
- Building and Grounds Budget of $233,965.00
- Public Safety ($351,320.00)
- Police Department Budget of $139,660.00
- Elroy Fire District Budget of $106,500.00
- Disaster Response Reserve Budget of $50,000.00
- Environmental Protection ($124,500.00)
- Sanitation Department Budget of $124,500.00
- Cultural & Recreational ($80,000.00)
- Lake Maintenance Budget of $80,000.00
- Economic Development ($28,480.00)
- Planning and Zoning Budget of $28,480.00.
- Capital Asset Replacement Plan $35,000.00
- Contingency of $44,079.00
- Utility Budget of $493,150.00
General Fund
The General Government Area of the General Fund is the one of the larger areas of our Budget and generally has the most activity. This amount funds the day-to-day operation of the Village including payroll, insurance, attorney fees, postage, telephone, etc. Increases in projected expenditures are forecasted in the areas of Administration.
The figures reflected in the General Government/Administrative Area, Building and Grounds area and Public Safety Area include a modest cost-of-living-allowance increase for our employees this year.
This year the budget area of Public Safety has another $50,000 budgeted which will be added to the reserves for the coming FY-21-22 to address our response to storms.
In the Environmental Protection area Lakes, particularly Lake Wackena, remains in good condition due to the continued treatments and aggressive approach to lake maintenance. We will maintain the current treatment program in the new fiscal year.
The General Contingency is established at $44,079.00 for FY-21-22. Our auditor, in concert with the Local Government Commission, has advised us our Fund Balance is sufficient to designate a portion of it as Restricted Funds to satisfy financial
requirements in the event of revenue shortages and another portion of the Fund Balance as Unrestricted, meaning we can expend these funds on various infrastructure projects. The amount set aside as Restricted in this year’s budget is $655,750.00 an amount equal to 50% of the projected budget expenditures.
Finally, the addition of a Capital Asset Replacement Plan (CARP) allows the Council to make annual installments and earmark the funds for capital asset replacements such as vehicles and other large equipment items. This year’s installment is $35,000. This rounds out the Area of the General Fund.
Powell Bill
Powell Bill revenues are expected to be approximately $31,650 for FY21-22.
Utility (Enterprise) – Water and Sewer
The Utility Fund is composed of Water and Sewer services. While we have seen a slight increase in water/sewer revenue due to new construction over the past few years and keeping in line with Wayne Water’s Fee Schedule, the Utility Fund has been suffering from decreased revenue versus increased expenditures for quite some time.
Additionally, as our infrastructure continues to age, we must look for ways to make sound, viable decisions in our utility operation for the good of the Village. We have developed a rate structure that will satisfy our expenses while putting adequate money aside to invest in our needed infrastructure improvements.
The rate for water will remain a graduated or tiered rate meaning heavy consumers will be charged more than light consumers of water. The rate structure is as follows:
| Monthly Minimum | $ 35.00 (includes 2000 gallons) |
| 2,001 – 6,000 gallons | $ 6.14 per 1000 gallons |
| 6,001 – 10,000 gallons | $ 6.51 per 1000 gallons |
| 10,001 – 20,000 gallons | $ 9.79 per 1000 gallons |
| 20,001 gallons – and up | $ 11.40 per 1000 gallons |
The sewage rate for commercial customers and residential customers will be graduated rate based on water consumption. That residential and commercial sewage rate schedule for the upcoming fiscal year will be $60.00 per month for 5,000 gallons of water consumed. Residential and commercial sewer over 5001 gallons will be $15.00 per 1000 gallons of water consumed.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Village of Walnut Creek
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