To the Honorable Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Blowing Rock:

I am pleased to provide you a copy of the FY 2003-2004 Annual Budget and Budget Ordinance (#2003-09). This document was prepared by Town Staff and represents a comprehensive publication of the Town’s plans and policies for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Recommended FY 2003-2004 Budget was initially presented to Town Council on May 13, 2003 and copies were made available to the Town Clerk and the public. The Town Council held Budget Worksessions on the budget on May 19 and 20, and June 4, 2003. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 159-12 (b), the Council held a public hearing on the proposed budget on June 10, 2003.

Town Council adopted the FY 2003-2004 Budget on June 10, 2003 and the Budget Document reflects the budget as amended during Council deliberations.

COUNCIL ADJUSTMENTS

Based on Town Council direction, the Adopted FY 2003-2004 Budget reduces the ad valorem property tax rate 1-cent to .0295 per $100 valuation. In addition, the FY 2003-2004 Budget reserves $90,000 to strengthen our General Fund Balance. With the approval of this budget, the Recycling Department was eliminated with recycling responsibilities shifting to Public Works - Sanitation for a Thursday-only commercial recycling collection. To cover proportional sanitation/recycling costs to our taxpayers, the Town implemented a new commercial recycling charge of $5.00 per month per business. Due to recycling volume, all large volume restaurants, the Tanger Outlet and Chetola Resort will not be charged the monthly fee but instead be required to privately contract for cardboard and glass recycling. Also, the Town will continue to operate a residential/commercial drop-off recycling container site adjacent to the American Legion.

All other Town fees and charges remain unchanged in FY 2003-2004.

The FY 2003-2004 Adopted Budget totals $5,001,795 for all Town operations, capital improvements, and debt service requirements. This is an increase of 1.83% over last year’s adopted budget of $4,911,450.

On behalf of all Town coworkers, I thank you for your continued guidance and support of our efforts to meet your priorities in the delivery of quality and efficient services to the citizens of Blowing Rock.

Respectfully Submitted,

Scott E. Hildebran

Town Manager