Proposed Tax Increases for Chapel Hill & Carrboro

Nearly Six Cent Property Tax Increase Proposed for Chapel Hill At the first Council meeting in May, Town Manager Roger Stancil presented his recommended budget for 2008-2009 and proposed a 5.9 cent property tax increase. The increase would go to fund the Town's increasing debt service without diminishing current service levels. Manager Stancil stated during his budget message that, "This is a significant increase, but it comes on the heels of two consecutive years of zero tax rate increase and a doubling of the Town's debt load since fiscal year 2005." The final Town budget as proposed would total $83.6 million, with $52.1 million going toward the General Fund, $14.6 million for the Chapel Hill Transit fund and the remainder for other funds. A public hearing has been set for Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm to allow the public to comment on the budget. The budget is scheduled for adoption on June 9. From Chapel Hill eNews

Carrboro Looking at Tax HikeAt Tuesday's Board of Aldermen meeting, Carrboro Town Manager Steve Stewart presented an $18.4 million budget that includes a 3.23 cent per $100 valuation property tax increase. The only expansions in the budget are the addition of six waterless urinals at the Carrboro Century Center, two police officers and increased funding for the Orange County Land Trust. The first public hearing on the budget will be May 27