Lyman budget preserves current tax rate
By Chris Lavender chris.lavender@shj.com
Lyman's proposed budget for fiscal 2016-17 maintains the current tax rate and provides additional�funding for emergency situations.
The anticipated revenues for the town's�operating�budget beginning July 1 are $2,072,203. The balanced budget keeps the tax rate at 5.46 mills and allocates $167,797 in new capital spending for�operations. The Lyman Town Council is scheduled to hold a second and final reading on the budget at its�June 13 meeting.
Lyman Treasurer Greg Miller said proposed capital expenditures include purchasing a leaf machine for $54,000 and a police vehicle for $41,000. The budget also allocates $6,000 for laptops, $37,791 for the installation of new windows at town hall and $29,006 to retrofit lights at town hall. A $17,000 rebate would be available through Duke Energy to retrofit the lights on town hall. The town would save $8,000 in energy costs during the first year of operation of the new lights. Over 10 years, Miller said the town would save $80,000 in energy costs by using the new lights.
Miller said the proposed operating�budget for fiscal 2016-17 represents a 9.5 percent increase in revenue compared to fiscal 2015-16. The council approved the budget's first reading on May 25.
Lyman Mayor Pro Tem Tony Wyatt said Tuesday the budget allocates $25,000 for contingency funds, providing the town with more flexibility to address unexpected expenses.
The town's wastewater budget anticipates $2,641,922 in revenues and $2,090,464 in expenditures with a surplus of $551,458. The budget allocates $193,220 in capital expenditures on the town's wastewater system.
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