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Pillage the Village Summer plunder days are back in Topsail Beach as Pillage the Village returns for the summer season. Read about the event on page 3A.
Volume 44, No. 37
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, June 11, 2015
All-County softball Post & Voice sports writer Bobby Norris names the All County softball team in this week’s issue. Read about it in sports on 10A.
50 Cents
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Final budget vote scheduled for June 22 meeting
Residents voice concern over tax increase
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Pender County resident Jerry Groves stood before the County Commissioners at Monday’s meeting and held up a nearly empty tube of toothpaste representing Pender County taxpayers who are being squeezed by the proposed tax increase. “I feel like this tube of toothpaste might have one more squeeze in it. I think it represents many Pender County citizens who maybe have one more
squeeze,” Groves said. I have many friends who are being taxed out of their homes. I ask that you use my money wisely.” Commissioners heard from a number of county residents who asked the board to find ways to cut the budget and not raise taxes as high as the 17-cent increase that has been considered by commissioners. One resident called a 17-cent tax increase “obscene.” Although the proposed budget was on the agenda, the board did not vote on a
budget amendment Monday night, but instead decided to hold another budget work session following the regular meeting and closed session. Commissioners will have to approve a budget at the next June meeting in order to have the new budget in place by the beginning of the fiscal year July 1. The board seemed reluctant to institute a tax increase, but noted that funding the voter approved school bond meant a tax hike.
Continued on page 15A
Barbecue at Old River Farms
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Rocky Point resident Jerry Groves tells County Commissioners Pender taxpayers are like a used-up tube of toothpaste – getting squeezed too many times for taxes. Groves spoke at Monday’s board meeting in Burgaw.
Who is responsible for delays?
BOC faces school bond questions
Pender Sheriff Carson Smith
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Sheriff asks BOC to reconsider cuts By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith asked county commissioners to reconsider cutting health insurance benefits for county employees to help trim the tax increase. Smith said he has run the numbers and for employes in the $32,000 per year range, the increase is significant. “You make $32,000 and you take home 30 percent less than that, and you take out family dental from the health plan, it is going to cost about $1,000 a year to keep this. That is a significant impact to them,” said Smith. Smith says the insurance package is important to help recruit quality employees. “I’ve heard the insurance we have might be better than others, and I hope that is not the test – just because somebody else has less. It would be good to talk about this and discuss how it is going to affect the employees in the county. The majority of the small cuts you made in the proposed tax increase was from the employees. It doesn’t appear the employees were valued when they took the first cut.” Smith also asked the board to consider the phase three pay increase that was not implemented several years ago. “I’ve been doing county budgets for 20 years and every budget message I get from the county manager starts off with ‘this is a tough budget year.’ I’m waiting for the one that says you can have whatever you want,” Smith joked.
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
The smell of barbecue fills the air at the Cape Fear BBQ Festival at Old River Farms last weekend. See more photos of the event on Facebook.
Pender County Commissioners responded to charges leveled against them that Commissioners David Piepmeyer and David Williams had a meeting and discussed delaying school bond projects in western Pender County, specifically the Penderlea School, in favor of funding projects in the east. Williams quickly answered the allegation. “Someone is either stretching the facts or told you a blatant lie,” Williams said. Commissioner Piepmeyer, who brought up the idea of staggering the release of bond funds to help lessen the impact of a tax increase, said the discussion took place at a budget
workshop and had nothing to do with favoring one area of the county over another. “What I asked for was a phased approach to the tax increase. And I proposed an option and I wanted information so we could consider this,” Piepmeyer said. “We are looking for every way not to increase your taxes. The phased approach I asked for was to put pressure on the school board to provide a plan about what is going to be done at Penderlea School. We would like to know exactly how your money is going to be spent. I just wanted to clarify my intentions.” Commissioner George Brown defended Piepmeyer. “I support the funding of Penderlea School and what
Continued on page 15A
Texas Swing music, barbecue at the event
ArtBeat Blue Jean Ball June 18 By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer ArtBeat of Burgaw will kick off the 12th Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival with the Blue Jean Ball Thursday, June 18. The ArtBeat fundraiser will feature well-known Texas Swing artist Carolyn Martin. Barbecue plates will be sold at the event, and doors will open at 7:00 pm. Rochelle Whiteside, Co-president of the Pender Arts Council, said that she is thrilled to have Carolyn Martin return to Burgaw. She per-
formed last year inside the Burgaw Courthouse, and this year ArtBeat will be the venue. “We are very fortunate to have Carolyn Martin performing in Burgaw. She just happened to be on tour in North Carolina, and she will be able to make the trip to Burgaw for this concert. She is a renowned artist in the country music industry and we are privileged to have her here,” said Whiteside. According to Martin’s website, her work has been described as “… a winning throwback to
Continued on page 15A
Texas Swing artist Carolyn Martin
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