Southern Shores OKs 4.25-cent tax increase
Southern Shores has approved a $5.89 million budget for 2010-2011 that includes a 1.25-cent tax increase for operations and another 3 cents to build a capital improvement fund.
The vote on Tuesday was 3-2, with Councilmen Kevin Stroud and Jim Pfizenmayer voting no.
The budget, which goes into effect July 1, provides $2.2 million for capital costs that include road maintenance, police vehicles and new emergency radios. The biggest piece of that, $1.4 million, will go toward the canal dredging project, which was delayed earlier this year.
A 2.5 percent raise for employees, going to weekly recycling pickup in the off-season, extending lifeguard coverage in the spring and fall shoulder seasons and an additional police officer were included in the operating budget.
The tax increase brings the town property tax to 14 cents per $100 of valuation, or an additional $170 a year on a $400,000 house. Town property owners also pay a 26-cent count tax that is likely to go up another 2 cents.
The volunteer fire department contract will be covered by 2.75 cents of the tax, up from 2 cents.
Southern Shores will have the second lowest property tax rate in the county. Only Duck’s, at 11.5 cents, is lower.
Budget scorecard
| Dare County | Public hearing, June 21 | 2-cent tax increase (proposed) |
| Duck | Public hearing, Wednesday | 0 tax increase (proposed) |
| Kitty Hawk | Passed, June 7 | 0 tax increase |
| Kill Devil Hills | Vote, June 23 | 0 tax increase (proposed) |
| Manteo | Public hearing, Wednesday | 2-cent tax increase (proposed) |
| Nags Head | Vote, Wednesday | 1-cent tax increase (proposed) |
| Southern Shores | Passed, Monday | 4.25-cent tax increase |
See what people are saying:
Join the discussion:
John McCarthy says:
Southern Shores has just killed the goose that laid the golden egg– their tax increase is obscene. I am very disappointed in the new Mayor– this was a wrong headed decision. The new Town Manager is going to have a tough time stepping into this mess.
ekim says:
New cop cars? They’re driving new cars now. I know they can find a cheaper comm system than that. I bet we could find some salaries to cut! SS you need to kick the bums out!!
The Taxpayer says:
Well said John.
MD says:
I’m also very disappointed in the new mayor. We went from a situation where the old one was despised, then we get one we like better, now, instead of compromising and listening to voters, this is the only thing people will think of when they think of the Denny administration.
He had a chance to do a good job by being the middle ground for us. Now, I can’t wait to vote against him. I am so sick of not supporting my own elected officials. We just want to be represented by people who listen and don’t adhere to one self-serving extremist view (or the other).
Ted says:
This town is going to look just like The Marketplace shopping mall. For sale signs everyplace you look. Vacant houses everyplace. Keep up the great work Mr. Denny and cohorts. We need a recall election!!!
taxpayer says:
This is so sad for the town. Now, I fear, we have gone back to the old way of doing business… clearly Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Denny and Ms. Hess are back to the “we know better than the rest of you” style of leadership that was the hallmark if this town government in years past. Their arrogance and refusal to consider anything that the citizens of this town had to say on the tax increase is very telling.
And they are all three irresponsible (at best) to allow the town government to grow its bureaucracy any larger during recessionary times (adding new positions in the police department, for goodness sake.)
What a mess . . . I hope those that voted for these people are absolutely delighted with the result.
james says:
All so disgusting! Where are the people suppose to get the extra money when many are retired. They want to see values drop and for sale signs on every street. We (most) in Southern shores are not wealthly and will have no choice but to move away from Dare and the Outer Banks.
linda says:
Someone start a recall petition on Denny! And remember we are paying this HUGE increase on inflated assessments. The new assessments are lower, but the wizards of smart won’t allow them to be used until 2012.