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AHOSKIE – Despite adding part-time personnel along with upgrades in security cameras and police equipment, Ahoskie’s newly adopted operating budget comes without an increase in property taxes.

The Ahoskie Town Council approved its FY 2024-25 operating budget here June 20 during a workshop meeting. The General Fund side of the budget totals $6,617,458 and includes several priorities: salaries for two part-time Customer Service Clerks at the Town Hall $40,000 total); one seasonal assistant in the Parks and Recreation Department ($20,000); Flock Cameras / AXON Tasers and Cameras ($106,000); and appropriating $150,000 to assist with a payment on a new platform truck for the fire department.

There is no change in the town’s ad valorem (property tax) rate, which remains at 81 cents per $100 of value.

The Ahoskie Police Department will receive the lion’s share of local taxpayer money ($2,191,194).

Environmental Protection ($748,095), Fire Department ($709,879), Administration ($639,468), Debt Service ($537,913), Streets ($359,580), Public Works ($349,223), Public Building & Grounds ($270,584), Governing Body ($257,741), Cultural & Recreational ($225,217), and Special Appropriations ($152,326) are the other areas of town government gaining at least six figures of taxpayer money.

Local property taxes will generate the most revenue ($2,382,846) for the new budget. Ahoskie’s local option sales tax is expected to generate $1,511,259 in revenue.

Other main sources of revenue include garbage charges ($659,000), refunds/reimbursements ($500,000), Electric Utilities Franchise Tax ($281,439), Motor Vehicle taxes ($282,000), and Powell Bill Allocation ($175,788 which is used for street repairs).

The new budget also allocates $433,141 from the town’s Fund Balance.

The town’s Enterprise Fund (water and sewer) adds another $4,351,398 to the overall budget. User fees ($2,940,000) accounts for more than one-half of that revenue.

Both the General Fund and the Enterprise Fund budgets for FY 24-25 were approved without objection.

The new budget is effective July 1.