Brunswick County budget holds the line on taxes
15 hours ago by admin admin

Brunswick County budget holds the line on taxes, focuses resources on schools, public safety

BOLIVIA, N.C. -The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners  adopted a FY 2013-14 budget Monday that holds the line on taxes while focusing resources on critical areas such as education and public safety.

 

"This budget holds the line on taxes while directing taxpayer dollars toward education,  public safety and other top priorities," said Commissioner  Phil Norris, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. "This budget also includes funding for technology upgrades that will increase efficiency and improve the security of our county's  critical data."

 

Highlights of the general fund budget include:

•    Maintains current tax rate of 44.25 cents

•    44.3% of 2013 tax levy used for education

•    18.3% of 2013 tax levy used for public safety

•    Fund balance appropriation of $3,989,519 for non-recurring capital appropriations; no fund balance appropriated for recurring expenditures

•    Funds appropriated  to improve the county's technology infrastructure, which will improve efficiency and strengthen data security

•    Capital improvement  plan for general government  includes funding for needed HV AC and roof replacements, C& D Landfill costs and a 91 I  center expansion.

 

According to the county's calculations, an estimated 72% of the general fund budget is used to fund departments or programs that are required or funded by the state or federal government.

 

Additionally, the county's enterprise funds for water and sewer continue to expand to meet increasing demand.  The county currently serves 34,823 water customers and 11,685 sewer customers. The water fund budget for FY 2013-2014 is $21,114,466, which includes a transfer to the capital project fund of

$3,350,000.  The wastewater fund is $21,397,803, which is a 6.1% increase over the FY 2012-2013 original budget primarily due to moderate increases in collection costs associated with the Calabash and Sunset Beach systems and the acquisition of the Ocean Isle Beach Plant.

 

The adopted budget and the county manager's  budget message will available on the county's website:

http://www.brunswickcountync.gov/Departments/GeneralGovernment/Finance/BudgetDocuments.aspx read more...

Public Notice
6/12/2013 9:02:44 AM by admin admin

The July 15, 2013 Board of Commissioners meeting has been canceled. read more...

Brunswick County Small Business Advisory Commission
6/6/2013 7:55:23 AM by admin admin

Brunswick County Small Business Advisory Commission hears from the business community at public forum, invites additional comments via email

BOLIVIA, N.C. – The recently-formed Brunswick County Small Business Advisory Commission held a public forum on Tuesday, June 4 for members of the business community to offer insight into ways the county can become a better place to do business.  Approximately 50 people attended the forum, which was held at 101 Stone Chimney Place in Supply.  County Commissioner Frank Williams, who spearheaded formation of the Small Business Advisory Commission, served as moderator.    

“The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners created the Small Business Advisory Commission because they want to hear from our small business community,” said Shannon Viera, Chair of the Small Business Advisory Commission.  “This forum was a pro-active first step toward ensuring that our small business community has a voice.  If you were unable to attend the forum, we still want to hear from you.  We invite businesspeople who deal with the county to come share with us via email at smallbusiness@brunsco.net.”

Businesspeople who were unable to attend the forum but would like to share their specific concerns or ideas on ways Brunswick County can become more business-friendly are invited to send them to smallbusiness@brunsco.net.  If possible, please submit your comments prior to June 14, 2013. 

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Blood Drive
5/23/2013 4:37:14 PM by admin admin

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring a Blue Line Blood Drive on Wednesday, June 19^th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Department.  To schedule your appointment, please contact Beth Boling at 253-2736.  T-shirts will be given to all donors and all donors will be entered into an American Red Cross drawing to win a $1,000 gift card! read more...

Public Notice
5/22/2013 12:49:46 PM by admin admin

ANNUAL CHANGE FROM CHLORAMINES TO CHLORINE
Every summer, Brunswick County and the towns, cities, and other utilities that purchase water from Brunswick County implement an annual flushing program. Public Utilities employees will flush the water mains by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. The flushing cleans out sediment and allows routine maintenance of the more than 5,000 fire hydrants in the Brunswick County service area. Flushing may result in some discoloration and the presence of sediment in your water. These conditions are not harmful and should be of short duration.

During this period of time, a slight change is made in the water treatment process to facilitate an effective flushing program. Throughout the year, chloramines, or combined chlorine, is added to the water as the primary disinfectant. During the summer flushing program, chlorine is added in an uncombined state, commonly referred to as free chlorine. Free chlorine is somewhat more volatile than combined chlorine, providing exceptional availability to react with sediments suspended during flushing. Brunswick County will use free chlorine as the primary disinfectant from June 24, 2013, through mid August 2013. Depending on your location within the distribution system and usage patterns, it could take up to a week for your drinking water to transition from combined chlorine to free chlorine at the beginning of the flushing program. The annual change from chloramines to chlorine for this brief period is required by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

You may notice a chlorine taste and odor in your drinking water while free chlorine is utilized. If you are especially sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine, try keeping an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator. This will enable the chlorine to dissipate thus reducing the chlorine taste. Remember – drinking water has a shelf life! Change out the water in your refrigerated container weekly.

Please note, if you have an aquarium or pond always test the water you add to your aquatic environment to be sure it is free of any chlorine before adding fish or other animals. Chemical additives with directions for removing either free chlorine or chloramines from water for use in fish tanks or ponds are available at pet/fish supply stores.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process please contact the County’s Public Utilities Department at 253-2657 or 371-3490 or 454-0512 or your local water provider. read more...

4-H Summer Fun schedule
5/5/2013 5:15:03 PM by admin admin

Youth, join your friends at Brunswick County's 4-H Summer Day camps.  You can become a Hawaii Four-H Investigator and investigate everything from cooking to gardening and horses to zoos.

Summer Fun Camp Book 

Summer Fun Enrollment Form

4-H Enrollment Form

4-H MEDICAL INFORMATION AND INFORMED CONSENT FOR TREATMENT Form

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