The town of Walden's budget for next fiscal year is official, but it's not what was unofficially approved on first reading.
The final budget, which was unanimously approved June 10, includes adjustments for an additional $35,000 in revenue due to a recalculation of the Hall Income Tax, Town Recorder Fern Lockhart reported at a June 3 budget workshop. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen also decided to allocate an extra $100,000 on top of the originally planned $579,700 for the design and renovations of the McCoy property.
The extra $100,000 came from the $1 million put in reserves for the project several years ago. The total amount of money allocated in FY 2014-2015 for the project - $679,700 - may not all be spent, said Mayor David Epperson.
Two community organizations in Walden requested that the town grant them additional funds in the upcoming FY 2014-2015 budget, but both were turned down.
Waldens Ridge Emergency Services asked town officials for an extra $5,000 on top of the $70,000 already budgeted for the new fiscal year. Typically, Walden donates anywhere from $40,000-$45,000 to the volunteer fire department, and officials plan to give an extra $25,000 for its capital campaign in FY 2014-2015, Lockhart said. (Read previous coverage at community.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/apr/30/taxes-remain-stable-walden.)
Bachman Community Center, which as of recent years usually receives $7,000 from the town each fiscal year, asked that the amount be increased to $15,000 to help with the cost of new heating and air ducts.
At the budget workshop, Lockhart said she didn't know where the extra funds for either agency would come from in an already tight budget.
"We're trying to keep the budget within our means as far as our revenues," Epperson said during the workshop.
Alderman Peter Hetzler noted that the town will also pay Bachman's building insurance, like it did it FY 2013-2014, on top of the donated $7,000. The cost of the insurance amounted to $2,578.80 in FY 2013-2014, said Lockhart.