News – Moore County Edition

May

31

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Local bill draft struck down by council majority

Government, Newscouncil, Pinehurst, short-term rentals

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday with the major item on the agenda being attempted legislation to regulate short-term rentals. The debate over whether or not to regulate short-term rentals has been ongoing in Pinehurst for months now, but it seems it will continue after an attempted local bill was struck down by a majority vote of the council. The Village had drafted a local bill that would have been passed on to the state representatives and presented to the N.C. General Assembly to have legislation that clarified the Village’s municipal authority to regulate short term rentals.…

May

26

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Most highway construction on hold for Memorial Day weekend

Entertainment, Government, News2022, Memorial Day

RALEIGH – The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and many people will kick it off with a road trip. AAA predicts nearly 1.2 million North Carolinians will travel at least 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, which is a 7.2% increase over 2021. The N.C. Department of Transportation will be shutting down major construction that could affect travelers because of lane closures along interstates, U.S. and key N.C. routes from this Friday morning until next Tuesday night. There are some exceptions where construction conditions do not allow for the opening of…

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

24

2022

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By Associated Press

Several incumbents lose state legislative primaries

Government, NewsGeneral Assembly, incumbents, legislative, NCGA, primaries

RALEIGH — Several state legislators won’t be returning to the North Carolina General Assembly next January after primary losses, while former lawmakers had mixed results in trying to get back to the House or Senate. Six incumbents — four Republicans and two Democrats — lost in Tuesday’s primaries for seats in their current chamber. Four of those sitting Republicans ran against fellow GOP incumbents who lived in the same district due to redistricting changes. Two Senate Democrats — Sens. Kirk deViere and Ernestine Bazemore — and Republican Rep. Pat Hurley — also lost primaries for their seats. In addition, two current…

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

18

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Southern Pines preliminary budget sees tax rate remaining steady

Government, Newsbudget, government, tax rate, The Town of Southern Pines Council

SOUTHERN PINES — The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday, May 10, where they went over their preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023 and continued public hearings from their last meeting. The Town of Southern Pines saw a tax base growth of 5% which means that the town received enough income to keep their property tax rate at $0.40 for another year, which it has remained at since 2017-18. “Bottom line, all current service levels are maintained, property tax rate is held at $0.40, obviously we continue to move money towards capital assets and facilities, the rainy day fund…

May

18

2022

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By Ryan Henkel

Moss tops Boles, Jackson cruises as Moore County sets November election ballots

Government, News, PoliticsBen Moss, Jamie Boles, ncpol, Richard Hudson

Moore County results in line with state-wide elections RALEIGH — The 2022 North Carolina GOP primaries concluded last night and Moore County will have a handful of new GOP challengers for local offices. In the races for the two NC House of Representatives seats, incumbent Jamie Boles fell to fellow House member Ben Moss is District 52. Moore County resident and political newcomer Neal Jackson emerged as the GOP nominee to replace retiring Allen McNeill for the District 78 seat which includes much of Randolph County and part of Moore. In the Republican primaries for Board of Commissioners District I…

May

11

2022

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By Matt Mercer

National conservative author to speak at Moore Republican dinner

Newsconservative, Moore Republican dinner

PINEHURST — Nationally-renowned conservative author Deroy Murdock will be in Moore County this weekend to speak at the Moore County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner. A Fox News contributor and prolific writer, Murdock’s weekly columns appear in the New York Post and the Washington Times. A native of Los Angeles, he worked on the 1980 and 1984 presidential campaigns for Ronald Reagan has lectured at the Cato Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Heritage Foundation. He spoke with North State Journal ahead of his visit to the Sandhills about the 2022 midterms and the current state of…

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

04

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Community College report shows major economic impact

Newsanalysis, community colleges, economic impact

RALEIGH — A comprehensive new economic impact analysis finds that North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges have a $19 billion annual impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 320,000 jobs across the state. The economic impact study found for every dollar the state invests in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, the state gains $7.50 in added incomes and social savings. The colleges generate nearly double the revenue from what they take in from the taxpayers. For every $1 the state invests, taxpayers get $1.90 back in added tax revenues and public sector savings, according to the study. “The Community College…