Rolesville board returning $$ to residents

Rolesville commissioners passed a controversial resolution last week which could result in a free month's worth of garbage collection for those who live within town limits.

The resolution would take Rolesville's portion of money collected from the county's upcoming half-cent sales tax and distribute it to town residents, most likely in the form of a skipped payment on their garbage bills.

Commissioner Ronnie Currin, who suggested the resolution, said that because the town was not anticipating the money, "I feel it's a windfall. We should give it back to the rightful owners."

The state kept a significant amount of money last year instead of dispersing it to municipalities, leaving many of them scrambling to make up the difference in their yearly budgets.

As a result, the General Assembly in October gave counties the option to impose a half-cent sales tax to help make up for the shortfall.

Rolesville's portion of the sales tax would be approximately $4,000, and Currin believes it would not have a significant effect on the budget if it were added to the town's coffers.

Commissioner Betty Whitaker said she was concerned about promising to return money "before we have the cash in hand."

Town Manager Don Dubay told commissioners the tax is supposed to "make up for money that we were supposed to receive." He reminded them that because the state withheld money, the town was postponing the purchase of things like a new patrol car for the police department.

Whatever Rolesville needs and can't buy now "will have to be made up later," he said.

Dubay added that not all the money from the sales tax will be returned to towns this fiscal year, and that unexpected expenses like the mandated hazard mitigation plan already have him searching for additional funds.

"It's a really tough year for any municipality right now," and "next year it's going to be really nasty with the state budget," he said. "It may be a nice gesture, but we might need it."

Currin said that now is a difficult time for everyone and that is "why it's the worst time to raise taxes."

"Some people out there are in a real crisis, needing a job and a place to live," he added.

Commissioner Pat Wharton told Dubay she agreed with everything he said and added that she does not want to create a "revolving door" by reimbursing the $4,000 in the form of paid garbage fees and then turning right around and having to raise taxes.

Whitaker said, "In my opinion, it's too soon to make this call."

Town Attorney Jonathan Koffa said if commissioners wanted to return money to citizens, it needed to be done in such a way that it would benefit everyone.

Eagles said if the town was hurting financially, it should cut back on expenses everywhere and put any extra money in reserve.

Currin said he helped approve the budget, "but I don't see we're in real bad shape."

Whitaker reiterated that if commissioners weren't sure about how much they were going to receive from the tax, they should not be in favor of giving money away.

She pointed out that if the town does not receive as much as commissioners thought it would, the balance of the refund would have to be taken out of general funds.

Koffa asked, "You are not approving money you don't have yet, are you?"

Commissioner Frank Hodge said the projected $4,000 to $5,000 the town could receive from the half-cent sales tax was not budgeted and "I don't believe (it) would change our bond rating."

Wharton asked, "Why would we think about this in this economic situation? When we were flying high, did we ever give anything back? I can't believe one month of not paying my garbage bill will make a difference in my life."

Commissioner Frank Hodge said, "Maybe not, but to some people it will."

Currin then made a motion to direct town staff to determine the amount to be collected by the tax and return it to the citizens in the form of a refund.

The motion was later amended to add the phrase "once we receive the funds."

The resolution passed three to two with commissioners Wharton and Whitaker voting against it.