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The Macon County Congratulations 2021 Graduates! & Shopping Guide June 10, 2021 • 32 Pages Volume 39 Number 4 FREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER www.themaconcountynews.com Board approves 2.5 cent tax hike Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer Residents in Macon County will see an increase on their tax bills this year as the Macon County Board of Commis- sioners voted 3-2 to raise the county’s tax rate from .374 to .40, increasing the county’s budget by $2 million to a total of $56,641,096. When Macon County Manager Derek Roland first presented his proposed budget for 2021-22, he proposed keeping the county’s tax rate of .374 flat with a budget to- taling $54,641,096, however, during a budget work session on Thursday afternoon, after hearing from various depart- ments about needs not included in Roland’s budget, Com- missioners voted to increase taxes to generate an additional See TAX HIKE page 2 IN THIS ISSUE Franklin High School graduates let balloons soar into the atmosphere in celebration of the culmination of a challenging year. The FHS Panther Pit was packed with family and friends Saturday morning as they watched their favorite senior accept their diploma on the way to their next adventure. Photos of all Macon County graduates begin on page 13. Photo by Vickie Carpenter Discussions for Skate Town awards loan to Park moving forward Chick-Fil-A developer Deena C. Bouknight – Contributing Writer Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer At last month’s Town of Franklin Council meeting, droves The Town of Franklin unanimously voted to award an eco- of skateboarders attended to express interest in a skate park nomic development loan to expand town water and sewer Page 24 where they can safely and legally enjoy the outdoor activity. facilities for Hendon Tiller Franklin, LLC, the developer re- Franklin Police Chief William “Bill” Harrell promised at the sponsible for the future Chick-Fil-A location in Macon Foraging for food possible in Macon County May 3 meeting to investigate opportunities within the town’s County. limits, and at the June 7 meeting he reported that he had been The loan, which totals $200,000, will be used to expand 828.369.6767 www.themaconcountynews.com PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID speaking with leadership at First United Methodist Church the town’s water and sewer infrastructure to the real property PERMIT 22 [email protected] GOODER PUBLISHING CORP. FRANKLIN, NC 28734-3401 See SKATE PARK page 4 See CHICK-FIL-A page 4 2 THE MACON COUNTY NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE VOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 study, which was launched last year, will ad- the project. During the RFQ phase, interested revenue for a fund that will ultimately cover TAX HIKE Continued from page 1 dress the issue. architectural firms will submit conceptual plans the debt service payments associated with the The vote to increase taxes passed 3-2 with to county commissioners, and based on the new construction. $2 million in revenue. Commissioners Paul Higdon and Josh Young firm’s qualifications, the county will rank the Macon County Commissioners Paul Hig- Commission Chairman Tate made the pro- voting against it. Young said he supported rais- firms and ultimately award the architectural don, who voted against the measure, said that posal to raise the county’s tax rate to an even ing taxes for the $1 million associated with im- contract to the winning firm. he could not begin to fathom debating taking .40 per $100 valuation to generate $2 million proving county employee salary, however The Macon County School System is re- on additional debt for Macon County when more annually. Tate proposed that $1 million be could not vote for the full $2 million increase quired by law to submit a long-term facilities $32 million of the county’s current debt load is spent to provide the Macon County Public Li- without more of a plan on how the funds plan to the North Carolina Department of In- already for school construction. brary with $30,000 previously requested to would be spent. struction every five years. The last several plans During Macon County Manager Derek boost salary for their employees, $25,000 for In addition to raising ad-valorem taxes in submitted to the state have specifically ad- Roland’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget proposal, funding for the partnership with the Nikwasi Macon County, the Board of Commissioners dressed the aging Franklin High School facility he noted that an overwhelming majority of the Initiative, and $10,000 for Cowee School for also approved a tax increase for the Otto Fire and a need to replace the existing structure. county’s annual debt load is directly attributed infrastructure repairs. The remaining portion of District that will be used to build a new fire sta- Structural engineers and contractors have re- to school construction that has been completed the $1 million in funding will be placed in con- tion. Otto Fire Department originally asked for viewed the building on numerous occasions over the last decade. tingency to be spent as needed for pending cap- a 5 cent increase to fund the new fire station over the last decade and due to the extensive The annual principal and interest payment ital projects such as refurbishing a building — which is estimated to cost $5 million — damage and structural decay of the building — on outstanding debt will decrease by ($25,630) donated to Southwestern Community College; however, commissioners voted to approve a it has been recommended that it would be more to $3,629,168 in FY ’22. Of the county’s cur- a property just purchased in Nantahala for a po- smaller increase of .10 per $100 valuation. cost-effective to rebuild the high school rather rent outstanding debt amount (principal and in- tential new community building; and to begin The Burningtown Fire Department also re- than complete the renovations needed to effec- terest) of $33,482,390, $32,387,907 or 97 generating revenue to fund the costs associated quested a fire tax rate increase to generate an tively improve the campus. percent is attributable to debt associated with with moving forward with construction of a additional $12,000 a year for an increase in A new high school is estimated to cost the school projects. new Franklin High School. costs for operations such as fuel. However, county a minimum of $60 million, which led Macon County is currently paying off debt The other $1 million generated for the tax in- Commissioners Paul Higdon, Josh Young, and commissioners to begin discussions on how the associated with construction of Iotla Valley El- crease will address salary discrepancies for Jim Tate voted against the request — denying project will be funded. While various funding ementary School, as well as substantial reno- Macon County employees. The county is cur- the fire department the increase. options are possible — commissioners voted to vations and expansions to South Macon rently undergoing a countywide pay study increase the county’s current tax rate by 2.53 Elementary and Highlands School. which will see a nine percent average increase Commissioners vote to solicit FRQs for cents to bring the county’s ad valorem tax rate The county’s debt associated with schools in salaries across the board to bring county em- high school construction to 40 cents per $100 valuation — which will construction is only expected to increase as be- ployees up to fair market value. Currently, due The Macon County Board of Commission- generate an additional $2 million in revenue for ginning in FY ’23 the principle and interest to salaries not being competitive with neigh- ers took an additional step in the new Franklin Macon County each year. portion of the Macon Middle School renova- boring counties, several Macon County depart- High School construction project and voted in A portion of the proposed tax increase, tion project debt will come due increasing the ments have anywhere between 8-15 vacancies a split vote to solicit RFQ (Request for Quali- which will be finalized on June 8 pending a annual principle and interest payment on out- causing disruption in county services. The pay fications) for architectural design services for final vote by the board, will begin generating standing debt by $361,618 to $3,990,786. Finding Purpose In throughTown Women’s Retreat Pain Keynote Speaker and Author Anne Beiler founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Inc. as seen on Oprah and GMA Hosted by First Alliance Church 93 Promise Lane, Franklin NC to support Smoky Mountain PREGNANCY CARE Center FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 7PM - 9PM AnneAnne Beiler,Beiler, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, AuthorAuthor BookBook SigningSigning atat 9AM - 2PM SINCE 1978 Dalton’sDalton’s includes lunch Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri. 8am-5pm Tickets $25 Wed. & Sat. 8am - Noon Friday,Friday, JuneJune 18,18, Registration is required at 11am-1pm11am-1pm 537 W. Main Street • Franklin, NC smokypartners.com 828-524-8911 • maconrentalco.com (seating is limited) THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 THE MACON COUNTY NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE 3 LIMITED TIME ONLY! BONUS RECLINER DEALS $ 599ea. 560 DEPOTMACON ST. • FRANKLIN, NCFURNITURE (828) 369-8296 MaconFurnitureMart.com MART © 2021 La-Z-Boy Incorporated †Genuine leather used on seating, arm and footrest areas matched with high-quality synthetic material on other minimal-wear areas of the furniture. 4 THE MACON COUNTy NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE VOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 THURSDAy, JUNE 10, 2021 Mayor Scott and the council commended Woodard and her Continued from page 1 staff on their work on the fiscal year 2021-22 budget, which SKATE PARK was approved. “They did a magnificent job,” he said.

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