At the Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night, Town Manager Warren Cabe presented the board with his budget for the 2013- 2014 fiscal year. This is the first step towards finalizing a budget for the year and the budget could see changes in the upcoming weeks before it is adopted. The fiscal year begins on July 1.
At the town retreat last month, Cabe had expressed to the board that he did not want to see any tax increases and the budget as presented reflects this sentiment. The current tax rate is $0.25 for every $100 and will remain at that rate.
Cabe's plan for town personnel calls for a two percent cost of living adjustment for all positions and for one management position in the fire department budget to be split into two entry level staff positions. He has also suggested that funds should be allocated to hire a part time employee to assist with mowing and general maintenance in the spring and summer.
A bill that recently passed the North Carolina Senate could allow municipalities in 10 counties to refrain from issuing public notices to local newspapers informing citizens of governmental meetings. The Town of Franklin's Board of Aldermen discussed this issue at its scheduled meeting Monday. Macon is one of the counties listed in the bill that provides municipalities the option to publish the notices in local newspapers.
Last Thursday, school officials arrived on the Franklin High School campus to find that overnight the school had fallen victim to a senior prank.
Authorities with the Macon County Sheriff's Office have shut down and seized property in two indoor marijuana growing operations since Saturday. According to documents on file with the Clerk or Courts office, Macon County Magistrate Miciah Leatherman issued a search warrant at 7:14 p.m. in the matter of 526 Coweeta Church Road to Macon County Sheriff's Office Detective Chris Murray. The search warrant allowed Murray to search the premises, vehicle, and person of Christopher Michael Belvedere.
