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Jackson forecasts revenue increase School, park, justice center projects top capital wish list BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER espite the dire predictions of spring 2020, Jackson County’s budget prognosis for the 2021-2022 fiscal year is looking downright positive, commissioners learned during a Feb. 23 budget retreat. When the pandemic hit last year, Jackson County leaders reacted by passing a budget that assumed an 8 percent drop from the previous year’s sales tax collections. Instead, the county saw record-high sales tax collections and a bump in property tax collections following the completion of multiple new construction projects. As a result, County Manager Don Adams told the board, Jackson County will see $1.35 million in new spending capacity due to increased tax revenues over the coming year. About two-thirds of that is spoken for already. The county will need $398,000 to give its employees a 2 percent raise, as well as $265,000 to pay for increased operational expenses at Southwestern Community College following completion of the Health Sciences Building this summer. Increased
Smoky Mountain News
March 10-16, 2021
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Contrary to initial predictions, sales and property tax revenues for 2020 increased compared to previous years. Jackson County graph health insurance costs will run the county $187,277, representing a 3 percent increase — a number that caused a sigh of relief for commissioners who had grown used to percentage increases in the double digits. However, the $496,000 net capacity increase does not account for any position
adjustments or the standard increases typically given to the Board of Education, SCC and the library. Also not accounted for in that number are the results of the 2021 property revaluation, which yielded a substantial increase in overall taxable value. Tax bills based on the new val-
ues will be mailed out in August, with payments considered late after Jan. 6, 2022. Keeping the same tax rate under the new, higher valuation would yield more revenue for the county, but commissioners could choose to lower the rate to keep property owners’ total bills simi-
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Triple-win climate solutions: Weatherize for savings and comfort "Nature never did betray the heart that loved her." — William Wordsworth, 1798
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ecord-smashing winter weather across the U.S. this month is making some of us notice drafty windows and doors or pockets of cold air in our houses and apartments. When extended power outages occur, these problems become more than annoyances. Fortunately, simple changes and upgrades can solve most of them, and your power company will conduct free energy audits to pinpoint the most effective fixes. A good start is usually the attic. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends that attic insulation have R values of 38 to 60. The DOE estimates that 40% of home energy loss is caused by unnecessary air leaks. Common energy wasters are inadequate weatherstripping around outside doors, leaks around windows, insufficient attic insulation, and gaps around ductwork.
Multi-family housing with inadequate insulation and other energy-wasters should be fixed for the sake of the landlord as well as tenants. Poorly-insulated dwellings can contribute to some renters having their power cut off because their bills skyrocket. Old gas space heaters running unsupervised all night can be fire hazards. About 20 percent of US fossil fuel emissions come from homes. A U.S. professional organization the National Academy of Sciences and climate scientists elsewhere urge energy upgrades to buildings to reduce these contributors to the climate crisis.
WIN-WIN-WIN 1) By making our homes more efficient, we save money on power bills while contributing to local employment. 2) We are more comfortable, especially during extreme weather. 3) We are helping today’s babies and children have a future with fewer weather catastrophes. What homeowners, renters, landlords and developers can do now 1. Own a home? Contact your power company.
After getting an energy audit, carry out as many energy upgrades as you can afford. Rebates are likely to help. 2. If you plan to build a home or are a developer or public housing agency, join the new movement of smaller, more energy-efficient housing. Well-designed small homes have plenty of storage, and they feel spacious and airy. 3. If you are a landlord, get an energy audit of your properties and follow through with repairs and upgrades. 4. To save more money on power bills, unplug— don’t just turn off—every small electrical device when not using it. See the Forbes Magazine “Top 26 Energy Hogs, Turned Off” link below. 5. If you haven’t replaced conventional light bulbs with LED bulbs, even a few make a difference. They last so much longer, too. 6. More ideas and resources from Southern Living Magazine: www.southernliving.com/syndication/smart-home-strategies-to-maximize -your-energy-efficiency
WHAT YOU NEED TO ACT NOW • Duke Energy free home audit for single-family homeowners: www.dukeenergy.com/home/products/home-energyhouse-call • Duke Energy Progress energy-saving products and services for businesses, including landlords: www.duke-energy.com/business/pro-
ducts • Haywood EMC: adventure.touchstoneenergy.com/choosePath • U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Guide: www.energy.gov/energysaver/services/energy-saver-guide-tips-saving-moneyand-energy-home • Descriptions of new eco-friendly insulation materials: www.tinyecohomelife.com/besteco-friendly-insulation/ • Southern Living Magazine, “30+ Small House Plans That Are Just the Right Size”: www.southernliving.com/homegarden/small-house-plans
WHO SAYS—THE EXPERTS • National Academy of Sciences. Research article “The carbon footprint of household energy use in the United States” www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/07/14/192 2205117 • Forbes Magazine, “Top 26 Energy Hogs, Turned Off” www.forbes.com/pictures/efee45gejh/no-24crt-computer-display/#e3484bce1558 Mary Jane Curry edits the WNC Climate Action Coalition column Triple-win Climate Solutions. She is a ClimateReality® Leader and a retired university teacher-researcher. Alexandra Kirtley designed our logo and manages our website wncclimateaction.com
