SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — Like all cities and towns, Summerfield is sorting through its budget but the town's proposal comes with a cost, leaders want to nearly double property taxes.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman heard the pushback and why leaders want it.
Thursday's meeting was a chance for those who call Summerfield home to voice their concerns about next year's budget.
One of the biggest topics was a proposed property tax increase and questions about what that money would actually pay for when it comes to services.
Talk in Raleigh about NC House Bill 801 has trickled down to the Town of Summerfield.
Legislators are looking into "paper towns" which are defined as a municipality that exists legally but fails to provide adequate services to its residents.
In order to secure it's place as an official town, Summerfield is looking at nearly doubling property tax from 2.75 cents to 5 cents in order to provide more services to the people.
Town Manager Twig Rollins also said it's in efforts to stop dipping into the town's savings.
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"[We're] trying to get the budget down to a balance budget. We have for a long time, dipped into fund balance every year and we're trying to lessen that amount to the least amount possible to have a balanced budget so revenues equal operating expenses," Rollins said.
Rollins said funding from the increased tax would be used for signs and street lighting, a new public safety contract and in-house billing for trash services. Services those living in Summerfield have questions about.
"I'm okay for public safety and putting in more lights but are we gonna continue and do every intersection in Summerfield? And is it going to continue to cost money or is this just gonna put in a few [lights] to appease legislators in Raleigh?" one public speaker said.
"We already pay taxes to Summerfield Fire Department, we already pay taxes to Guilford County to protect us from fire, we have contracts with these people or they have contracts with us… why am I being charged another tax for this?" another public speaker said.
There was also concern about transparency, one public speaker feeling like the decision to increase property tax has already been made, "you're gonna approve this next Tuesday, you will have no town meeting until August and no opportunity to ask questions at all or even make those measly three minute comments."
Town council was open to hearing these concerns and taking them to the finance officer before making a vote.
The budget includes several personnel costs such as upgrading audio streaming equipment for meetings, strategic planning fund, a new position to manage public record requests to name a couple.