Randolph Record – Moore County Edition

May

24

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Aberdeen approves budget for upcoming fiscal year

Government, Newsbudget, council, fiscal year, town of aberdeen

ABERDEEN — The Town of Aberdeen Council met Monday, May 23 where the proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-23 was presented and approved. The proposed budget has a total operating budget of $17,048,910 and will see an increased tax rate of $1 for residential and commercial garbage collection rates and a 3% higher volume rate for water and sewer. However, due to Aberdeen’s steady growth – property valuations in Aberdeen rose approximately 7% – the property tax rate and base rate for water and sewer will remain the same. “We have a great town,” said Mayor Robert Farrell. “It’s growing…

May

18

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Proposed budget sees reduction in Pinehurst property tax rate

Government, Newsbudget, Pinehurst, property tax, Village of Pinehurst Council

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, May 10, to further discuss the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget and vote on multiple action items. Village Manager Jeff Sanborn gave an updated presentation to the council on the fiscal year 2023 budget and strategic operating plan. The Village is looking to have a $27.1 million budget, which is 6% above the 2022 amended general fund budget. The proposed budget will also see a reduction in the property tax rate to $0.31, down half a cent from the previously projected rate. The budget also includes five initiative action plans that…

May

11

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Moore County Schools to resubmit bids for needed elementary school construction

NewsMoore County Board of Education, Moore County Schools, school construction

CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Education met Monday, May 9 with a positional appointment and a couple of budget confirmations on the agenda. The board voted to reappoint George Little to a second term to the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees. The Moore County Board of Education appoints four members to the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees each to four year terms, one each year. Board members Stacey Caldwell and Philip Holmes screened two applicants for the position and made the recommendation for Little to be reappointed. The board also approved a bid by Fields Plumbing…

May

11

2022

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By U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

HUDSON: Defending life and our veterans

Opinionsabortion, Richard Hudson, veterans

Life. It’s the first unalienable right endowed by God listed in our Declaration of Independence. It’s something we celebrate on this Mother’s Day. And it’s also something I am committed to defending as a dad and your congressman. Tragically, since Roe v Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973, more than 63 million babies have been lost to abortion in America. Now, our United States Supreme Court is currently debating a case that could reform laws about life in our nation. Last week, a draft opinion from the Court regarding the case Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization…

May

04

2022

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By U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

HUDSON: Defending freedoms and our border

Opinionsborder security, column, editorial, opinion, rep. richard hudson

“The constitutional freedom of religion is the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights.” This quote by President Thomas Jefferson underscores the importance of freedom of religion to the soul of our nation. The right to practice one’s religion free of government interference is the most fundamental tenant of our democracy. However, this most basic right has been attacked repeatedly over the course of our history, and still today. Last week, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments in the case of Joe Kennedy. An eighteen-year Marine veteran, Kennedy was an assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington.…

May

04

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

New sales tax projections could mean lower property taxes

Government, Newsprojections, property tax, sales tax, Village of Pinehurst Council

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met on Tuesday, April 26 where they provided updates on recent hires, property tax projections and new construction. The Village announced that they had recently made two additional hires for their planning department. “For a very long time, we’ve been kind of shorthanded in our planning department and we’re very happy to announce that over the last two weeks, we’ve hired two new planners,” said Village Manager, Jeff Sanborn. “So we’ll be at full strength starting about the middle of May.” Sanborn also clarified that now that the Village has received and analyzed…

Apr

21

2022

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By Ben Shapiro

SHAPIRO: Yes, it’s Biden’s inflation

Opinionseditorial, inflation, opinion

Last week, America received news of yet another shocking inflation report: over the past 12 months, inflation has skyrocketed 8.5%, outpacing wage gains by 2.9%. That inflation has flooded every area of American life, from gas (up 48%) to airfare (24%) to furniture (16%) to milk (13%). Inflation is costing the average American family hundreds of dollars per month — and, as we know, inflation is a highly regressive tax, harming those at the bottom of the income spectrum the most. For its part, the Biden administration blames Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. White House press secretary and…

Apr

20

2022

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By Michael Barone, Washington Examiner

BARONE: The verdict on lockdowns: High cost, minimal benefits

Opinionscost, editorial, lockdowns, mandates, opinion

What were the benefits and costs of the COVID-19 restrictions implemented over the last two years? It’s a good time to ask that question, especially now that the masks are coming off and the lockdowns are canceled. One useful scorecard comes from the prestigious National Bureau of Economic Research, in the form of a paper by three market-friendly economists, Casey Mulligan (University of Chicago), Stephen Moore (Heritage Foundation) and Phil Kerpen (Committee to Unleash Prosperity). They evidently disagree with the nation’s most prominent advocate of massive restrictions, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who recently argued, “I don’t think we’re ever going to…

Apr

20

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Southern Pines moves closer to changing municipal election process

Government, Newsmunicipal elections, The Town of Southern Pines Council

SOUTHERN PINES – The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday, April 12 with public hearings for the St. John Paul Catholic School expansion and changes to the municipal election structure as the key items on the agenda. The council held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the town charter to change the process for municipal elections. The proposed amendment would change municipal elections to the plurality method, essentially eliminating the primary and having just a single vote in the general election for council members. The ordinance would also potentially save the town about $20,000 according to the…

Apr

20

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Pinehurst approves five-year financial plan

Government, Newscouncil meeting, financial plan, housing, renters, short-term rental, Village of Pinehurst

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, April 12 to discuss the five-year financial plan for the upcoming fiscal years and to continue the community dialogue on short-term rentals through the public comments. The council was presented with an operating plan for the 2023 Fiscal Year and along with a five-year financial plan through 2027. The council normally builds a five-year plan to help project finances and their impacts on the village, but those plans are subject to changes each year. “What the five-year plan methodology does is let us build a budget that is adopted by the…