Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The audit for the Town of Manteo shows $7,016,160 available at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2024. That represents 103.42% of the town’s expenses for the year.

In short, said the auditor Austin Eubanks with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co., PA, of Wilmington, Manteo has unrestricted funds to operate for 12 months.

The audit showed no conditions, no problems with management and no findings. The audit says the figures are “fairly stated, in all material aspects, in relation to the basic financial statements as a whole.”

The total assets as listed on the balance sheet for Government Funds are $8,580,888 and total liabilities at $7,559,899.

Included in supplementary information is the liability of the local government for pension funds. Manteo has recorded liabilities for other post-employment benefits of $1.38 million, local government employees retirement system of $1.5 million and law enforcement officers special separation allowance of $573,200.

At the Board of Commissioners meeting on December 4, 2024, the board accepted the audit presentation.

At the same board meeting, the commissioners approved, as recommended by the town’s Planning and Zoning Board, a text amendment to clarify the process for substantial changes in use. At a public hearing required by state statute, no one came forward to speak.

The unanimously adopted text amendment is a “clarifying action,” said town attorney Ben Gallop. The opening paragraph of the amended text states: “Before property may be used for any proposed use constituting a substantial change in use of the property the property owner shall apply for and receive the requisite zoning permit or special use permit associated with the proposed use under this zoning ordinance. A substantial change in use of property, which requires a zoning permit, occurs whenever the essential character or nature of the activity conducted on a lot changes.” Four triggers are listed.

The board adopted budget amendment of $45,000 from a Rural Community Capacity Grant to the fiscal year 2025 budget. The grant will pay for the town’s strategic planning.

The next step, said town manager Melissa Dickerson, is a design lab.

Gallop brought an issue to the agenda. He recommended that the Board of Commissioners take a stand against North Carolina Senate Bill 382, which was to address the needs of western North Carolina.

The bill does send $227 million to the Helene Fund but does not appropriate those funds. Gallop was concerned about sub-part 3K of the 132 pages of legislation.

The legislation reads: “G.S. 160D-601(d) reads as rewritten: (d) Down-Zoning. – No amendment to zoning regulations or a zoning map that down-zones property shall be initiated, enacted, or enforced without the written consent of all property owners whose property is the subject of the down-zoning …”

The board adopted a resolution opposing the legislation, which was subsequently adopted, vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper, and became law with both the North Carolina House and Senate overriding the veto.

The board considered changing the meeting dates. From January through July, the board has scheduled one monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 6, Feb.12, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4 and July 2. The board will reconsider the change at mid-year.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!