Swain left off SCC priority funding list

Southwestern Community College is receiving $7.17 million from the Connect N.C. bond to make major infrastructure improvements to its three campuses, but none of that money will be going to SCC’s small Swain County campus.

Macon applies for mental health assistance grant

maconMacon County Emergency Management Services hopes to expand an existing health care model to better serve mental health patients in the county — and a grant from the Evergreen Foundation may help the department fund it.

Waynesville boosts fire protection

fr firemenWaynesville’s 2016-17 budget includes funding for eight new full-time firefighters, effectively doubling staffing, shortening response times and increasing firefighter safety at a cost of about $530,000 per year over three years.

Waynesville mulls adding eight firefighters

haywoodWaynesville town leaders will decide this month whether to raise property taxes to hire additional firefighters, and if so, by how much.

Increases cause Jackson to ponder EMS contract

fr EMSjacksonWhen a funding request for Emergency Management Services came in for more than double what Jackson County is paying now, commissioners were taken pretty far aback, asking lots of questions about the justification for the $821,000 leap and setting the issue aside for a few weeks to investigate the options.

EMS costs and revaluation are catalysts for Jackson’s tax rate

jacksonWith a drop in county value and increase in emergency response costs, Jackson County is looking at a draft budget built on a property tax rate of 37 cents per $100 of value — a 32 percent increase over the current 28-cent tax rate.

More firefighters needed, but is it worth a tax increase?

haywoodWaynesville leaders will face a big decision this budget year: whether to increase property taxes by 10 percent to pay for additional firefighters.

As volunteer fire cavalry wanes, quick response hinges on a core of paid staff

fr firefightersWaynesville town leaders heard something they didn’t necessarily want to hear last week.

EMS costs throw a wrench in Jackson budget talks

jacksonAmbulance service in Jackson County could more than double in cost to taxpayers if commissioners decide to fund the full $1.4 million budget requested by Harris Regional Hospital.

Emergency management changes move forward

haywoodHaywood County is continuing with efforts to update and improve its emergency management ordinance — a local regulation that came under fire last year by a group of residents who thought the language violated their constitutional rights.

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