The Boone Town 2010-2011 budget is now passed with the unanimous vote of the Town Council last night, but while the tax rate remains 31-cents per $100 valuation, there are some increases to expect.

Town residents will be taxed on their motor vehicles at a rate of $5 per vehicle—and that money will pay for…sidewalks.  The council held a public hearing on the matter early in their session, but then were told by the Town Attorney that the matter, as a new tax, had to be passed along with the budget, so it quickly was included in the budget ordinance.  The new tax is expected to generate $24,000+ to be specifically for sidewalks in Boone.

The other increases will come for water and sewer, and a local laundry operator of Village Laundry, told of his frustration—and the loss of local jobs—when his bid for laundry services for six local motels went to an out-of-town firm purely over the cost of water.