BY JOHN KRAHNERT III

Staff Writer

The village of Pinehurst's proposed budget for the next fiscal year maintains the current tax rate, while leaving room for a few major initiatives.

The village staff presented its recommended budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year to the Village Council Tuesday evening. It totals about $15.5 million, which is about a 1.4 percent decrease from the current amended net budget. The current ad valorem tax rate of $.28 per $100 valuation remains.

"It's been an extremely difficult budget to put together," Village Manager Andy Wilkison said by phone Monday, "but I'm pleased with where we are considering the environment and what other towns and counties are having to deal with also. I think if we can go forward with it as it is, it does accomplish some important things for the village, especially down in the core village."

Among the major initiatives are the completion of the expansion of the village's automated trash collection system, the addition of more trails to the village's greenway system, more stormwater and drainage control measures, resurfacing five miles of roads and sidewalk projects.

There was support of the greenway system, based on input received for the village's comprehensive long-range plan update and for its parks and recreation master plan.

Also included is $125,000 to improve the downtown sand parking lot, which has been a bone of contention for years. Residents and business owners have lamented about its inefficiency and unattractiveness. The village had also floated the idea of installing a downtown "comfort station" - a restroom - but that has been deferred, Wilkison said.

The village will not fund four vacant positions, but there will be no layoffs. The four positions are a police officer, a building maintenance technician, a streets and grounds crew leader and a laborer.

A 2 percent merit pay increase has been budgeted. Group insurance costs are projected to increase by 10 percent.

The council will hold a public hearing on the budget May 25. It is expected to adopt it on June 8.

Contact John Krahnert III by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot. com.