THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 25, 1995 TAG: 9510250452
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Candidates in the race for mayor and two seats on this beach community's Board of Commissioners have promised they would work to hold the line on property taxes and the level of municipal services.
A packed house jammed the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall for the last in a series of municipal election forums sponsored by the Dare County chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Incumbent Mayor Terry Gray is being challenged by Mayor Pro Tem Duncan Wright. In the commission race, incumbents Lurana Cowan and Bill Morris are challenged by George ``Buck'' Marks, Rex Meads, Jeff Shields, Joe Deneke and Jimmy Dean Hanks.
Kill Devil Hills residents now pay 44 cents per $100 in property value, and most of the questions from the audience centered on the tax issue.
Deneke, a former mayor, said he would reduce town expenditures by cutting one employee from each of the 10 town departments. Also, he suggested a transfer of assets from two municipal funds to lower taxes.
``I would favor a motion to transfer $500,000 from the operating budget, and $100,000 from the street improvement fund to the fund balance,'' he said. ``I believe if that was done during the next budget process, it would result in lower taxes.''
Meads took a different view.
``I don't believe cutting staff is the right way to go,'' Meads said. ``If you get people motivated, and get them working with the people in the community, you can increase the level of services without raising taxes.''
Hanks, a North Carolina Power employee, said his firm has undergone a restructuring to try to become more competitive. He, too, is committed to holding the line on tax rates.
``We've grown into such a bureaucracy,'' Hanks said. ``There seems to be a lot of duplication of services. But I don't think we should reduce staff without some type of compassion. We'll be doing good if we can hold the line on taxes.''
Marks said that there can be a reduction of taxes, as long as business principles are applied.
``There can be a reduction of taxes in Kill Devil Hills,'' he said.
``But this town has a $6 million budget. There are a lot of businesses that are becoming lean and mean. The town needs to do the same thing.''
Gray said that he had offered a proposal to reduce two city funds by $96,000 to keep taxes at current levels.
Taxes will also play into the debate over consolidation of services with other beach communities. Most candidates were skeptical about the chances for unification.
``We need to get our own house in order first to make ourselves attractive to other towns,'' said Wright.
``But I think we could save money by making jumbo purchases with other towns, and working together when we bid out street improvements, public works and other things. I think it would have a positive effect.''
Shields, however, said public support for consolidation is key. Shields called for more public involvement in government.
``If the people are for it, then I'll be the first to step down from my seat,'' he said.
All candidates also spoke in favor of a beach high school, as well as a youth center or YMCA for the area. Most candidates favored a county youth center, but wanted to know more about a ``Y'' program.
``I favor a youth center,'' said Morris.
``I think it's going to be a great asset to the people of Dare County.
Candidates also endorsed the current method of pay-as-you-go for street improvements.
Municipal elections in Dare County are set for Nov. 7.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE by CNB