The New Boston City Council held a special meeting last week that included a public hearing on both the annual budget and proposed tax rate, with both ending in action to approve the budget and tax rate with unanimous approval by council members.
The city leaders were happy to announce that their annual budget was approved without any increase in water or sewer rates for New Boston residents, and the approved tax rate also did not include and rate hike, with the tax rate staying the same as the last fiscal year. The city will receive an increase in tax appropriations, but that increase is due to an increase in property values, not the actual tax rate. The approved tax rate sets the city Ad Valorem tax rate at $.284448 per/$100 of property values.
In other action, the council also addressed possible dismissal of the City Administrator for lack of confidence.
After adjourning to a closed session, council members returned and by a vote of 3-2 did vote to approve City Administrator Wayne Dial’s immediate termination from his position. Voting in favor of the termination were council members Jeffrey Thompson, Mike Foster and Shaka Bowie. Voting against the measure were Rob Carr and Steve Williams.
Dial said after the meeting, “They did not give a substantial reason for what they did and I just don’t understand.”
After the votes were counted, New Boston Mayor Ron Humphrey stated , “I think we made a big mistake.”
Mayor Humphrey told the West Bowie Post that he would be assuming the city administrator’s duties until a replacement could be found.
