Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that James Overton’s title was town manager. Overton’s correct title is finance director. This article also incorrectly stated that the next meeting of the Spring Lake Board of Commissioner is April 7. The correct date for the meeting is April 14. CityView apologizes for these errors.
In a short meeting on Monday night, the Spring Lake Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a new budget amendment, allowing the town to pay water fees to surrounding service providers and purchase town vehicles. Let’s break it down.
Water fees
Finance Director James Overton presented the commissioners with a budget amendment allowing money to be moved to the appropriate accounts to cover water fees from Harnett County and the Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC).
Overton explained that the town is spending less than was budgeted to purchase water from Harnett County, but is surpassing the budget for water services they receive from Fayetteville Public Works, due to several leaks in the town’s water system. The budget amendment will move $100,000 from the fund that pays Harnett County’s water services to the fund that pays Fayetteville PWC to cover the cost.
Police vehicles
This budget amendment also makes preparations to purchase vehicles used by the town’s police department. Overton said the town leases vehicles from car rental company Enterprise, and that the contracts for 15 of these vehicles will be ending within the next three months.
Overton shared two different options to resolve this issue: extend the leases for one to two years at $50,737 and $101,000, respectively, or buy the vehicles outright for about $63,000 in total including sales tax, vehicle tags and registration.
“It doesn’t make any sense to spend $100,000 when we could buy them outright for $60,000,” Overton said, explaining his recommendation to purchase the vehicles.
Commissioners approved the budget amendment based on his recommendation.
The next Spring Lake Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14 at Spring Lake Town Hall, 300 Ruth St.
