Manteo budget shrinks, but tax rates will remain the same

By Michelle Wagner

Correspondent

The property tax rate for Manteo residents will remain the same during the coming fiscal year under the budget approved by town commissioners earlier this month.

The rate is 21.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The town's $2.9 million budget represents a decrease from the current year's $3.7 million budget because of a significant amount of grant funds that are not recurring, according to Town Manager Kermit Skinner's budget message.

Skinner said Friday the spending plan is a maintenance budget that parallels the others adopted by towns in Dare County.

"Given the current economic conditions of the state and country, we have deferred any large capital projects for future years," he said.

Skinner said the design phase of a storm water project at Manteo Water Garden Park is planned for this fiscal year. The project includes manufacturing a wetlands area to capture the storm water flow at U.S. 64 and Grenville Street.

Finance Director Shannon Twiddy said that while the design is planned, no money has been budgeted for it, though the planning department is exploring options for grant funding.

The public works and police departments made no requests for any large capital purchases or vehicles, according to the budget.