SNOW HILL—The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget for Greene County is available on the Greene County website. The budget, balanced with a tax rate of $.786 per $100 valuation, emphasizes conservative growth and strategic investments. Greene County approved the manager’s proposed budget at their June 3rd meeting.

Key Highlights:

1. Tax Revenue: The estimated valuation for real and personal property is approximately $1,181,388,585, with a collection rate of 98%, generating an estimated net tax revenue of $10,750,000. This includes current year Ad Valorem and NCVTS Ad Valorem taxes.

2. Staffing Adjustments: The budget includes converting two part-time positions to full-time roles, one in Animal Services and one at the Senior Center, both primarily funded by grants. Additionally, in-town mowing will be contracted to Red Coats, freeing up a public works staff member.

3. Employee Compensation: A 3.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all employees is included to address inflation and a 3.4% increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

4. Education and Libraries: Funding for Lenoir Community College and Greene County Schools remains unchanged from the 2023-2024 budget. However, funding for the Neuse Regional Libraries has increased by 8% to $155,250 to offset operational costs and improve employee wages.

5. Vehicle Replacement Plan: The budget continues the initiative to bring all vehicles into an 8-year replacement cycle, including 13 new purchases. This includes four vehicles for the Sheriff's office, a new vehicle each for Inspections, Animal Services, DSS, and EMS, as well as a truck, a service truck for the Water Budget, and three vans for Transportation.

6. First Responder Program: The budget reflects a push for increased participation from local fire departments in the first responder program, with $22,500 allocated for nine departments.

7. Economic Development: Annual dues for participation in the Global TransPark Economic Development Region remain unchanged.

8. Utility Rate Increases: The budget proposes increases in water and sewer rates to offset rising costs. Water rates are set to increase by 2.93% for residential, 3.31% for commercial, 3.83% for institutional, and 4.06% for bulk. Sewer rates are recommended to rise by 4.9% for residential users and 5.9% for prisons. Solid waste fees are also proposed to increase by $5.00 for both the availability and user fees.

9. Sales Tax Forecast: Despite the NC General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division projecting a 1.2% increase in sales tax year-over-year, the budget does not anticipate an increase, following last year's 2% reduction.

Conservative Growth Approach:

The proposed budget reflects Greene County Government’s commitment to conservative growth, earning returns on both tangible and intangible investments. The leadership and accomplishments of the Greene County Commissioners are commended for fostering policies of growth and expansion while upholding county values and traditions. Department heads are recognized for implementing the commissioners' vision.