Pender budget must balance wants, needs

Burgaw | The Pender County Board of Commissioners ended its three-day budget retreat Wednesday with a major task: how to balance the departments' needs against their wants.

At the retreat that started Monday, the board heard from supervisors in 17 departments and representatives from two towns asking for everything from more personnel to money to fund beach nourishment projects.

"We've definitely got a lot to think about," said David Williams, board chairman. "We heard a lot of good projects this week, and over the next few months we'll have to figure out what we can afford."

The board began that process Wednesday morning before adjourning the retreat by outlining its budget priorities for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Here's a top 10 list:

Schools: The Pender County Board of Education wants about $2.9 million more in operating and capital funding for the 2008-09 school year to address growth, safety and technological needs. For the 2007-08 school year, the school board received $10.8 million in operating expenses and $1.2 million for capital projects from the county.

Water and sewer improvements: Like last year, the commissioners want to continue to try to upgrade the county's water and sewer system in hopes of enticing more industries to build in Pender.

Beach nourishment: With the county's two beaches being a major draw to tourists, the board plans to continue to budget money to help fund projects to put sand back on the shores of Topsail Beach and Surf City.

Public Boat Ramps: The county commissioners want to provide more public boat ramps in the county. The board applied earlier this year for a state grant to purchase land off Lewis Road for a ramp.

Stormwater drainage: The commissioners want to set aside money for projects, such as clearing local waterways, that may decrease flooding throughout the county.

Capital improvements: The commissioners plan to expand the county's capital improvement budget to include money for building maintenance and renovations. This will include selling the old Topsail School off U.S. 17 and then using the money to build a new Hampstead library and renovate the existing library for county offices.

Increase law enforcement funds: Sheriff Carson Smith is requesting money this fiscal year for a sheriff's office substation on the east side of the county. The building would house a magistrate's office and breath test room, Smith said. The sheriff is also seeking more room in the department's offices in Burgaw, and he wants the county to begin planning for construction of a new county jail.

Youth programs: The commissioners want to budget money to fund extracurricular programs so children and teenagers in the county will have positive activities to get involved in.

Domestic violence support: The board wants to set aside money for the Safe Haven Domestic Violence Shelter to help with its efforts.

Transportation: The board will continue to lobby N.C. Department of Transportation officials and state legislators for funding to construct the N.C. 53 Bypass in Burgaw and the Hampstead Bypass.

Tyra M. Vaughn: 343-2070