(FY-24/25 tax rates were in error for the July 3 Macon Sense paper. We will provide an editorial comment in our next edition stating the same. The correct information follows and the corrections are in bold).
The Town of Franklin Council gathered for what was essentially a formality on June 19 to adopt the fiscal year 2025 (FY-25) budget. Town Manager Amie Owens had most of the work completed by mid-month but needed to wait on Macon County Commissioners to approve a requested fire district tax increase of two cents, which occurred June 11. The total FY-25 budget will be $11,941,449, which is an 8% increase over FY-24. FY-25 tax rates, based upon every $100 valuation of taxable property will remain at $.33, as they were for FY-24. For comparison, the rate for FY-23 was $.35 cents.
Owens thanked her staff, namely Finance Officer Sarah Bishop and Town Clerk Nicole Bradley for their hard work in managing various demands throughout the year. “We have an excellent team of department directors … we start our budget process in January, so they put around six months of hard work in,” she said. Said Mayor Jack Horton, “It is a reasonable and realistic budget.” Town of Franklin Fire Chief Ben Ormond thanked the Council for their support in helping to get needed funds for the fire department. “To have our board go up there (to lobby county commissioners) meant a lot to us, to the whole department.”
The Town Council of Franklin holds monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., in the Town Hall board room, 95 East Main Street, Franklin. The next regularly scheduled meeting is August 5. To view past meetings, visit www.maconmedia.com, which is a video service provided by Bobby Coggins.
Tourism Development Association meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall board room, 95 East Main Street, Franklin.
Macon County Board of Education met June 27, with many project updates provided, including one regarding Franklin High School. According to Todd Gibbs, auxiliary services director for Macon County Schools, a general contractor is in the process of completing such infrastructure tasks as moving sanitary drain lines, storm drain lines, and overhead power lines. Plus, paving being completed for the drop-off/pick up route for buses. “This is all in preparation for actual construction, which will happen immediately after the [2024] football season,” said Gibbs. “There may be some cursory things going on until then, like a mobile classroom moved in for ag classes, and some work accomplished on the Higdon Property, but no real construction until after the football season.” A mobile classroom will be moved in for agriculture classes. Some work will be accomplished on the Higdon Property.” The Macon County Board of Education holds its regular meetings the fourth Monday of each month at the Macon County Schools Administrative Offices, located at 1202 Old Murphy Road, Franklin, or at a host school location. Meetings are live-streamed and can be accessed by visiting www.macon.k12.nc.us.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners holds one regular meeting a month on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The next scheduled meeting is July 9. Meetings are held in the Commissioners Board Room on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse, 5 West Main Street, Franklin. To view a meeting’s video, agenda, minutes, and handouts, visit: https://maconnc.org/roster.html.
The Town of Franklin Planning Board’s regular meetings are held the third Monday of each month (with the exception of holidays) beginning at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall board room, 95 East Main Street, Franklin.