Non-profits search for funding in a shrinking Watauga County budget

By Scott Nicholson

A public hearing Tuesday on Wastauga County’s shrunken budget brought forth requests from agencies in the wake of increased demands for services.

Watauga County manager Rocky Nelson said the budget had been cut “about $4 million and change,” or about 10 percent below levels of the current fiscal year. He said all departments had received cuts, though fire departments and non-profit agencies were kept at the same levels.

“Whatever the final budget, everyone needs to be aware that we’ll have to closely monitor revenues,” Nelson said. “Any decreases will be spread across the budget, both internally and externally.”

Nelson said all cuts made in the current year had come from within county government departments, but if revenues continued to decline, the cuts would extend to agencies outside the government.

County commission chairman Jim Deal said, “We’re appreciative of the spirit of cooperation we’ve seen from the county departments and the people we’ve worked with this year.”

Deal said the proposed budget has been conservative and sales-tax projections continued to decrease, which could mean even more cuts ahead. However, human service agencies were maintained at previous levels. “We recognize particularly that during times like this, non-profits are needed now more than ever,” Deal said.

Harris Prevost asked the commissioners to support the Blue Ridge Parkway’s seventy-fifth anniversary celebration, saying conservation organizations were trying to help preserve views while park maintenance was backlogged. He said the parkway helped boost local sales tax due to its popularity with travelers.

Watauga County Board of Elections chairwoman Stella Anderson presented some state-required training that would help elections staff reach certification levels. Anderson said the elections department had returned about $85,000 to the county last year after saving money on required improvements.

Lynne Mason spoke on behalf of Hospitality House and WeCan, saying the agencies were struggling to help people find food and housing. “We have just seen an increase demand for all services,” Mason said. “We’ve been past occupancy every night for the past year.”

Kathy Copley spoke on behalf of the Humane Society and the county’s support of its grant applications.
After two work sessions, the commissioners added $35,000 to the budget, with small amounts earmarked for an animal spay-and-neuter program, recreation, and a community care clinic. Revenue shifts would also restore the equivalent of one staff position in the Planning Department and Register of Deeds Office. The budget is expected to be adopted in June.

Karee Mackey, acting director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, submitted a policy change that would allow farmers to use the Agricultural Conference Center for marketing and distribution efforts. People are also allowed to use the kitchen space as long as they clean up afterwards. The policy change was approved.

The commissioners discussed the Watauga Community Housing Trust, which is being established to help launch public-private housing efforts. The commissioners appointed Planning Director Joe Furman, attorney Chelsea Bell Garrett and housing task force chairman Scott Eggers as initial members of the board for incorporation purposes, with eventual expansion to 10 board members.