With backs against the wall, Swain hikes taxes
Swain County commissioners last week tentatively agreed to increase the property tax rate by 3 cents to cover a budget deficit — the first property tax increase Swain has seen in more than two decades.
Sylva dips into reserves to avoid tax hike
Sylva town leaders have chosen not to raise taxes next year and instead delay town expenditures, save money where they can and dip into reserve funds to shore up the budget.
Swain revaluation bumps values up 16.5 percent
Four years after Swain County leaders trashed a skewed property reassessment, the county has completed a new revaluation.
Waynesville proposes to hold line on taxes, hike water rates and licensing fees
Waynesville officials are looking under a different couch cushion for additional revenue after losing income from sweepstakes operations and its ABC store.
Infrastructure repairs force Bryson City’s hand on tax hike
Despite cutting more than $50,000 from the town’s budget, Bryson City’s leaders plan to raise property taxes and town fees in the coming fiscal year.
Haywood commissioners win political game with school board
Haywood County commissioners drew a line in the sand. The Haywood County School Board decided not to cross it. In a nutshell, that’s what happened.
But what was interesting was the spoken and unspoken back and forth between the two elected bodies about taxes and spending in this era of tight budgets and tax-hike phobia.
Tax hike phobia trumps school request for officers, counselors
The Haywood County Board of Education has concluded that the cost of putting officers in elementary schools is not worth raising property taxes.
Macon and Jackson locked in a friendly feud over 1/10th of a cent
Who has the lowest tax rate in the state — Macon County or Jackson County? The answer is both, it just depends on who you ask.
Macon commissioner duo wants to spend down savings to bring on tax cuts
Two tight-pocketed Macon County commissioners, who have voted consistently against all sorts of new government spending, have decided to go on the offensive and push for a tax decrease.
Sylva faces tough budget choices
Sylva town officials are staring down three unsightly options to balance the upcoming year’s budget: tax increases, budget cuts or both.
None of the choices have much appeal to board members, but it’s understood that something must be done to alleviate the town’s budget woes. Sylva’s government is carrying a $193,000 budget deficit going into the next fiscal year.