Non-profits see dip

in Boone town funding
By Melanie Marshall

Whether the town of Boone’s budget glass is half empty or half full will probably depend on who is asked.

For several local agencies, the glass may seem half empty after town officials agreed to half the total amount of funds requested during budget hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.

The mayor, town council and staff members met in workshops to discuss the pending 2009-10 budget.

Among discussions, outside agency funding was reviewed for the upcoming fiscal year. Seventeen agencies requested a total of $218,546. The outside agency funding committee made recommendations for half of the amount at $109,936 to be included in the budget.

One of the largest requests for funding came from Watauga County Parks and Recreation. The county department asked for $44,800 for the next fiscal year. The committee recommended the town refuse the request entirely, which sparked some discussion among council members Wednesday morning.

Mayor pro-tem Lynne Mason presented some figures to the council for consideration. The town makes up 41.5 percent of the total county population, according to Mason. She reported the total parks and recreation attendance to consist of 21 percent town residents and the remainder as county residents. Mason said the town exceeds 31 percent of attendance in a few programs, including junior tennis, adult soccer and aquatic.

Summer camps also have a higher town percentage, though Mason said most are pay-to-participate programs.

She added that the town provides $2.3 million in land, leased at the rate of $1 per year, to the county department for parks and recreation use.

“I could justify it [an allocation] if a higher percentage of town citizens used the facilities,” Mason said in support of the committee’s recommendation. She also referred to the greenway trail, which is used by both county and town residents and is maintained by the town.

Council member Liz Aycock also pointed out that town residents are also county residents and pay both taxes.

Council member Stephen Phillips disagreed. He pointed to the fact that the parks and recreation department was originally established by the town and then taken over by the county government. Phillips made a motion to re-allocate $10,000 from the amount recommended for the Watauga Public Library. The motion died on the floor for lack of second.

This would be the second consecutive year the town has not funded the parks and recreation department.

Stephen Poulos, director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation, responded that Blowing Rock residents and Beech Mountain residents are double-taxed, yet fund parks and recreation within the two towns.

“Last year’s cut resulted in the recreation commission reluctantly raising fees an estimated 10 percent. Pool hours were cut and other supply lines were cut to account for the $44,800 short fall,” Poulos said.

“We will also have to react this year and we may lose a program.”

Poulos reported 30-35 percent of participation in athletic programs, summer camps and swim passes reside within the town. The Tot Lot is not counted in these statistics, but is heavily used and estimates are 50-70 percent town residents, according to Poulos.

“A majority of our facilities and programs are in the town of Boone, which brings people to Boone on extra occasions,” he said. “People go out to eat prior to and after games.”

During the budget workshop, council members agreed this issue required additional discussions. A motion passed unanimously to add the item to the intergovernmental retreat agenda.

Two other funding requests were refused. Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy asked for $15,000.

The Daniel Boone Gardens requested $12,000. The committee recommended zero funds for both.

All of the other agencies requesting funding were recommended to receive less than the amount they were seeking.

Agencies that will receive funds, pending adoption of the proposed budget, include the Children’s Council, $5,715 of a $6,016 request; Children’s Playhouse, $3,800 of $4,000; Hospitality House WeCan program, $14,250 of $15,000; Leola Street Community Garden, $6,175 of $6,500; Mountain Alliance, $9,500 of $15,000; Opposing Abuse with Services, Information and Shelter, $9,500 of $10,000; Project on Aging, $1,857 of $12,000; WAMY Community Action, $2,375 of a total $10,000; Watauga Arts Council, $6,650 of $7,000; Hunger and Health Coalition, $15,414 of $20,000; Watauga County Public Library, $15,000 of $19,230; Watauga County Rescue Squad, $14,000 of $16,000; and Western Youth Network, $5,700 of $6,000.

A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. in council chambers located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road. A full copy of the proposed budget is available at www.townofboone.net. The budget will be up for approval at the council’s regular meeting to be held Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m.