County Budget Discussion Continues

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners continued their discussion on the FY 2012-2013 budget at their June 5th meeting. Among the budget items debated were a proposed cut in Commissioners’ salaries, the amount of longevity pay for county employees, and cutting the waiting time before new county hires receive health insurance.

A motion made by Commissioner Peterson to table any vote on Commissioner pay until after the November elections was approved 3-2, with David Gantt and Commissioner Jones voting against. Jones made a motion to reduce the waiting time for health insurance from the current 6 months to 1 month, but the motion was not seconded. As already written, the budget for the next fiscal year calls for lowering the wait to 3 months.

Budget discussions will continue and a vote taken at the June 19th meeting.

In other business, the board voted to allow Waste Pro, the franchisee that provides rural garbage pick-up service, to raise rates by 4 percent. The change will increase the basic monthly rate from $14.20 to $14.77. Company officials told the commissioners they would’ve preferred an 8 percent increase, which would help offset the rising price of fuel and other costs. Gantt voted against the increase, saying that he felt like the county and Waste Pro “had made a deal”.

The Commission also approved the Rural Operating Assistance Program, which provides transportation for rural areas in the county.

To hear David’s thoughts on actions taken at the June 5 meeting, continue: