Commisioners Ask State Rep. Boles for Help
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The Moore County Board Commissioners is asking state Rep. Jamie Boles to amend local legislation authorizing the room occupancy tax.
At a Tuesday meeting the board voted to seek a change in the local bill to use a portion of the 3 percent room occupancy tax to support the Moore County Airport.
“Our goal is to take care of the local match to the FAA without using taxpayer money,” said board chairman Nick Picerno.
In order to draw down federal grants for airport improvements, the county must appropriate a 5 percent match, which can be a large sum when the grant is in the million dollar range.
Under the existing bill, all of the tax money is designated for operation of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism initiatives in the county.
Earlier in the meeting the board learned that Moore County’s tax is among the lowest tourism taxes in the state. Most counties levy a tax of 5 or 6 percent.
However, Picerno said Boles had informed him that he does not favor introducing any bill that raises taxes in this session of the General Assembly.
The board was working with a minimum quorum Tuesday when only three of the five commissioners were present. Vice-chairman Jimmy Melton was hospitalized with chest pains, and former chairman Tim Lea was recuperating at home from injuries sustained Sunday in a horse riding accident.
Because two commissioners were absent, the hearing on the controversial Pine Forest rezoning request was continued once again, this time until their next meeting on March 15.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners awarded two contracts for construction of Phase 3 of the East Moore Water District. They went to low bidders McArthur Construction, $1,141,993, for Contract 1 and T.A. Loving Company, $1,129,875, for Contract 2. The awards are contingent upon approval by the county attorney. The rural development agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the district a $5 million loan to construct Phase 3.
The board also adopted a resolution supporting the town of Robbins request for economic designation enabling the municipality to market its qualifications for BRAC and other business initiatives.
More details will appear in the print version of The Pilot.
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Comments
Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago
So, now you want to take away from the promotion of tourism to the area and use it for the little airport so you can get more federal matching funds.
None 2 years, 2 months ago
No we don't need anymore taxes or federal (taxpayer earmarks) since Republicans are so opposed to pork barrell money or earmarks. Hello Tea Party....
The Airport Authority, in its deliberations, has presented a need and request for a grant match to accomplish Major Capital Plan capital projects. The Board of Commissioners is presented options to consider the possibilities to act upon this request. Possible options are as follows:
Possible Options for Airport Matching Funds:
o balance of $464,642, 1st Bank money market earning .2% interest o balance of $527,551 Capital Mgmt. Trust earning .12% interest $992,193 Budget of $3,045,305 for FY10-11, 3 months cash flow for operations = $761,250 Possible net dollars available from Investments...................………..$230,943
Airport Owned assets @ cost are: Land …………………………………………….$ 142,952 Bldg ……………………………………………..$ 2,144,128 Total Airport owned assets at cost $ 2,286,180
Airport Owned assets @ value are: Land……………………………………………….$ 142,952 Bldg……………………………………………….$ 1,975,236 Total Airport owned assets at value $ 2,117,288
Airport debt on Hangar is $1,606,000 as of 6/30/10.
( Yearly P&I payments total $172,000/year )
County owned Airport assets @ cost are: Land …………………………………………….$ 19,812,878 Bldg……………………………………………...$ 8,030,817 Total County owned Airport @ assets ……... $ 27,843,695
County owned Airport assets @ value are: Land …………………………………………….$ 19,812,878 Bldg…………………………………………….. $ 3,765,596 Total County owned Airport assets @ value $23,578,474
County loans money to Airport from the County Capital Reserve Fund @ negotiated interest
County provides match from County Capital Reserve Fund.
County does not fund match
These options or variants of these options may be considered by the Board of Commissioners and the Airport Authority. Obviously, terms of the grants, terms of any repayment and available revenue, and the impact or criteria necessary for any option must be considered with any final decision.
None 2 years, 2 months ago
Total Salaries and benefits FY 08/09 FY 09/10 FY 2011 Budget
Salaries $565,518.21 $450,940.16 $532,245.00 Benefits $56,300.04 $46,286.28 $69,935.00
Health Insurance $104,000.00 $71,750.00 $42,000.00
OPEB $41,793.00 $30,004.00 $40,000.00
Total Salaries & Benefits $767,611.25 $598,980.44 $684,180.00 *
*Includes Aircraft Maintenance that was outsourced early in FY 2010. The payroll savings by
outsourcing will be approximately $76K in FY 2011.
The current budget includes an Executive Director and Assistant who are both working part-time.
Bonuses '09/10 $7,550.00
Bonuses '10/11 $14,550.00
Longevity '09/10 $2,958.00
Longevity '10/11 $2,370.60
None 2 years, 2 months ago
Why does the airport need any taxpayers money from Federal or State earmarks. Isn't this kind of abuse of taxpayers funds the reason for the November vote? Others who post speak about the Obama Stimulus Plan being a drain on our financial well being when in fact it was the Bush Administration who initiated the spending spree. Seems no one can get their figures correct...Bush came into office with a surplus and left Obama a deficit never seen since the Great Depression, banks collapsing, home mortgages in default, and an economy in shambles. Ask yourself, are we better off now than when George Bush left office? I think so....
None 2 years, 2 months ago
The current budget includes an Executive Director and Assistant who are both working part-time.
Total Salaries and benefits FY 08/09 FY 09/10 FY 2011 Budget Salaries $565,518.21 $450,940.16 $532,245.00 Benefits $56,300.04 $46,286.28 $69,935.00
I would really like to have a part-time job earning a half million a year!!!!
Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago
Wow. I'm getting a headache while looking at all those figures. I still don't see the need to take away from the important promotion of tourism into the county. That might hurt the room tax in the long run. It's like taking from one thing to patch up the other and going in a circle at the same time. Travel is likely to go down a bit with the high cost of gas anyway. It's already affecting some people's plans for vacation that is quickly becoming a "staycation."
None 2 years, 2 months ago
I find it amazing how many taxpayers don't realize that Federal or Fed money is still taxpayer money sent to Washington and funneled back to state governments. Why tax an industry that is sorely needed in this economy...I have to agree with Jamie Boles on this one, we don't need additional taxation of any kind.
With conservative spending and forward thinking elected officials, we can reduce taxes, and still have a quality of life here in Poorer County. When planning and the future financial stability of this county rests in the mind of one Commissioner, Larry Caddell, who has interest in his business opportunities as opposed to the good of the people of this county, I'm not sure the county and the people can stand another 4 years of Larry Caddell!