Public hearing June 18

Tryon water and sewer customers will likely see another one percent increase in rates beginning next month with sanitation rates for town residents proposing to increase two percent.

Tryon Town Council is currently working on its fiscal year 2013-2014 budget, which begins July 1. The town has scheduled a public hearing on the budget proposal for June 18 during its regular council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Tryon Fire Department.

Tryon is currently proposing to keep its tax rate the same at 47.78 cents per $100 of valuation.

The town, however, is also awaiting word from the state on whether or not it will continue dispersing hold harmless revenue to local governments next year, which is approximately $88,000 for Tryon.

One penny in property tax revenue for Tryon generates approximately $16,000.

Tryon is proposing a total $4,163,082 budget for next year, compared to this year’s slightly larger budget at $4,188,775, a difference of $25,693.

Tryon’s sanitation increase will be the first increase in a few years, while Tryon also had a one percent increase in its water and sewer rates last year. With the water/sewer increase, Tryon plans to absorb its match to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) it received to replace a sewer trunk line along East Howard Street.

The proposed budget includes a one percent cost of living increase for employees as well as a one percent merit raise.