Property owners may face increase in county tax rate

By Randall Rigsbee

Despite an increase this year in property values, the tax rate in Chatham County could rise for the first time in four years if county commissioners approve a recommended Fiscal Year 2005/06 budget presented Monday by county manager Charlie Horne.

 This year, property in Chatham County was revalued for the first time in four years, increasing the   total property valuation by 21 percent over the previous values set four years ago, to $6.06 billion.

The “revenue neutral” rate – which would be a “continuation” of the current budget – would be 55.7 cents per $100 of property, Horne said. (The current tax rate is 64.64 cents per $100 of property.)

The county manager, however, is recommending an additional six cents over the revenue neutral rate for a tax rate of 61.7 cents per $100 of property.

In a preface to the proposed budget presented to commissioners Monday, Horne said the proposed budget “adequately addressed current needs of this county government and also puts in place an entry gate from which we will effectively manage the changes taking place in Chatham County. It isn’t high maintenance, yet it doesn’t’ short sheet the needs we have laying just over the horizon.”

Horne is recommending that the proposed six-cent tax rate increase be earmarked for capital improvements and public safety.

more- See Thursday, May 5 paper: Vol 85, No.23

New director to start June 1

By Cara Rotondaro

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved the appointment of Carmine F. Rocco, MS, as the county’s new health director effective June 1.

His annual salary was approved at $77,386.

Rocco will fill a spot left vacant by former health director Dorothy Cilenti, who left the position at the end of February.

Rocco has served as the Warren County health director since April, 2002 and has more than 20 years of public health experience. He has worked in New York, Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina.

“I’ve worked in public health for many, many years, from line staff to management, so I feel like I have a good appreciation for public health,” Rocco said in an interview this week.  

He has a bachelor’s degree in health education from Manhattan College and a master’s degree in community health education from Hunter College.

Rocco is a recent graduate of the UNC Management Academy for Public Health and has served on a number of state committees working to improve access to public health services for North Carolinians.

more- See Thursday, May 5 paper: Vol 85, No.23

Work continues on veterans memorial

By Joseph Pardington

Siler City may soon have a Veterans memorial on its landscape, according to Town Board Member Sam Adams.

Siler City has provided a perpetual site for the memorial at the intersection of Alston Bridge Road and South Second Street at Siler City’s Bray Park.

The memorial will be gray granite with two-inch letters. The memorial will have the Great Seal of the United States of America, as well as the seals of the five branches of the military – the Navy, the Army, the Marines, the Air Force and the Coast Guard.

The memorial will also contain the list of names of Chatham County veterans. At five dollars per letter, the sponsoring organization needs about 200 participants to complete the memorial, Adams said.

The memorial is being promoted by the West Chatham Veteran’s Memorial Committee, of which Adams is treasurer.

“It’s a grassroots effort,” Adams said.

Siler City’s perpetual listing of the names is going to be funded by the cost of engraving, Adams said.

So far support has been good, Adams added.

“So far we’ve got 25 to 30 names. I think its going great.”

The memorial costs $12,000, which is divided into two separate pieces. The base costs $2,000, while the memorial itself costs $10,000. It is in two pieces to protect the monument should something happen to the base, Adams said.

The memorial has already raised $5,000 as of Monday, Adams said.

“Any Chatham County veteran is eligible to apply,” Adams said.

The concrete for the memorial has been donated, landscaping services and backhoe services have been donated, too, Adams said.

more- See Thursday, May 5 paper: Vol 85, No.23