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Kannapolis approves budget
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Published: June 24, 2009
Kannapolis City Council members said they're disappointed that there's no money for a recycling program in the fiscal year 2010 budget, and one said he's concerned about what the city is spending to market itself during tough times.
But council members voted to 6-1 on Monday to approve the $44.8 million budget, which represents about a 1.7 percent decrease over the adopted budget for fiscal year 2009.
The budget holds the city's tax rate at its 49-cent per $100 valuation tax rate, but required lots of cuts to help the city weather the recession.
Council member Richard Anderson voted against the budget. He said there was not enough discussion about the budget before passing it. He also did not agree with paying the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation $40,000 per year to market the city.
"We already have (David) Murdock up here who is promoting the city with his business," Anderson said, making reference to the North Carolina Research Campus.
Anderson said he wanted to cut the $40,000 expense from the budget.
"That would pay for another policeman, another fireman," he said. "I just cannot vote for this budget this year."
"This city is full of people paying their taxes who are truly suffering, and we're handing the money out like we're philanthropists," Anderson said.
Mayor Bob Misenheimer said the city staff worked hard on the budget and that it was not an easy task this year.
"City staff has really taken a serious look at this thing," he said. "There are probably things that all of us would disagree with, but at the same time, economic development is where we are getting people coming to the city of Kannapolis and want to establish a business. That would be the last place I'd like to see a reduction."
City staff cut more than $1.4 million from Kannapolis' operating budget. City Manager Mike Legg cut about $400,000 from the budget by freezing salaries and cutting merit-pay increases for fiscal year 2010. Cutting 10 positions will save the city $468,139. While positions have been cut, no one was laid off, Legg said.
Council member Roger Haas said he commends the staff for doing a great job putting together a budget during a tough year.
"There were sacrifices shared by everybody," he said. "I was disappointed there were no pay changes for employees.
"I also don't like that recycling is not in the budget," he said. "I know we don't have money for it, but I hope we'll keep it in our sights."
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