A public hearing on the budget — which proposes no increase in taxes and seeks to reduce long-term dependency on appropriating fund balance for daily operations — will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 9, in the Town Hall Board Room located at 9 South Main Street. 

Just prior to that, at 9 a.m., a budget workshop will be held in the Municipal Building Conference Room located at 16 South Main Street. 

Between June 9 and June 26, citizens can call 828.452.2491 to leave comments with the town manager’s office, or email comments to the mayor and/or board of aldermen by visiting www.waynesvillenc.gov/mayor-board-of-aldermen.

Upon addressing concerns brought by citizens during that time, the budget will be presented for a final approval at the Town of Waynesville’s regular board of Aldermen meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27. 

A customary period of public comment always takes place near the end of the meeting, but Waynesville aldermen have traditionally been very liberal with allowing the audience to speak. 

Given that municipal budgets must be passed by July 1 per North Carolina law, this will likely be the last time citizens will be able to express their support or opposition to the $32.2 million budget.