Haywood County’s proposed budget will satisfy those worried about tax hikes but is likely to cause hand-wringing at the board of education.

The $46.8 million spending plan maintains the 61 cents per $100 of valuation property tax rate by relying on growth in the overall tax base and modest growth in sales tax revenue.

The Haywood County public school system will get a 4.4-percent current expense hike to $9.73 million. The school system had wanted $10.38 million, an 11.4-percent increase from last year. In addition, the county cut the system’s capital outlay contribution to $400,000 from $600,000.

“... it is virtually impossible to appropriate the entire amount requested by the board of education. The money is simply not there!” Horton wrote in his budget message.

The budget proposal also includes: $70,000 for Waynesville recreation, well short of the $350,000 request; a 15-percent increase for the sheriff’s department as six deputies paid for with a grant become locally funded; and the first substantial payment for the new justice center/jail project, a total of $1.5 million to pay architects.

A public hearing will be held June 18 at 7 p.m. in the Superior Courtroom.

 

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