County Passes Annual Budget

Wilkes County Commissioners held their first regular meeting of the month on Tuesday and  voted on the proposed budget for the upcoming year. In May, County Manager John Yates presented Commissioners with the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July1.  The budget had a tax rate of 66 cents per $100 of assessed value which is a 1 cent decrease from last year.  The proposed Wilkes budget includes 4 new full-time EMS positions and included a 2 percent salary increase for all full-time county employees.  Before the budget vote, Commissioners agreed to 4 amendments including an additional $2000 for Lincoln Heights, additional $100,000 for Wilkes schools, $100,000 for the Airport Grant match, and one additional full-time employee at Register of Deeds.  The budget was passed unanimously.