By Aila Boyd
The Buchanan Town Council unanimously voted to approve the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget at its meeting Monday night.
The budget, which will go into effect on July 1, totals $1,335,438. The projected revenue and expenditures for the general fund both come to $766,538. The projected revenue and expenditures for the utilities fund (water and sewer) both total $568,900.
The resolution that adopted and appropriated the budget also set the real property and personal property tax rates and garbage collection fee for the fiscal year, both of which will remain the same.
The real property tax rate was set at $.19 per $100 of assessed valuation. The personal property tax rate was set at $.32 per $100 of assessed valuation.
Prior to the approval of the budget, which will run from July 1 of 2019 through June 30 of 2020, a public hearing was held on May 13.
The council also voted to approve an ordinance, which will amend the bulk water purchase rate, increase the minimum sewer rate, increase the late payment penalty, and add a new section to authorize a charge for noncompliance with the town’s bulk water purchase requirements.
In order to purchase bulk water from the town, individuals now have to schedule their purchases in advance and estimate the amount of water they will be purchasing. They also have to provide the dates of the purchase and the name of the company that is to be billed for the purchase.
Based upon the provided information, the town will then determine whether or not it is in the town’s best interest to sell the requested water, the hydrant from which the water will be drawn, and will install a portable water meter to measure the purchase.
A $25 fee will be charged for connecting the meter. The bulk water purchase rates are as follows: $65 for up to 1,000 gallons, between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons an additional fee of $35, and $20 for each additional 1,000 gallons over 2,000 gallons.
According to the ordinance, the sewer rate structure was increased in 2018; however, the revenue for the sewer fund is no longer sufficient to pay for the expenses of maintaining the system.
The ordinance increased the minimum sewer charge from $28.25 to $32.25 per month.
Additionally, the ordinance increased the minimum water/sewer late fee penalty to a flat $20 per month and authorized a civil fine of $250 for unauthorized access to the town’s water system.
