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Wilson This Week -- June 7, 2023
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The Wilson City Council is expected to approve the city's 2023-24 budget at its meeting next Thursday, June 15. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Wilson City Hall, 112 Goldsboro St. E., and includes a public hearing on the budget.
City Manager Grant Goings has described the spending plan as a "status quo budget". Highlights of the proposed budget, which would go into effect July 1 and extend through June 30, 2024, include:
- The proposed budget totals $266.1 million, an increase of less than one percent from the current budget.
- The property tax rate will remain at 57.5 cents per $100 valuation, or $1,294 for a $225,000 house, the median-priced house in Wilson. The city's tax rate continues to be one of the lowest in our peer group including Kinston, Goldsboro, Rocky Mount and Greenville.
- Residents also pay county taxes. County commissioners approved their 2023-24 budget June 1 without a tax increase so city residents' tax bills should be unchanged from 2022, barring changes to their properties.
- No changes to electric, gas, water, sewer, or stormwater rates are recommended in the proposed budget. The solid waste fee will increase $1 per month. Permitting fees will also increase by the standard three percent.
- Four additional positions are included: a downtown police officer to address the additional residents living downtown, a fire maintenance specialist, a planning technician, and a position in recreation to support the new pickleball complex.
The budget focuses on investing in the city’s workforce, upholding the City Council’s commitment to redevelopment efforts, including investment in downtown development, and prudent investment in the community from several one-time funding sources
The city currently has many projects in the works that use funding from ARPA and the federal Community Projects Funding. These include a water quality greenway and major parks investments, sewer system improvements and additional funding for RIDE. More information about current projects is available on the city’s website here.
The spending plan is for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2024. State law requires the City Council to adopt the 2023-24 budget before July 1.
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Quick -- this is the final countdown to attend the Gig East Summit, a free, fun look at emerging business trends and a chance to network with others here in Wilson. The summit will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Wilson Arts and last until 3:30 p.m., including lunch.
The keynote address is "Revolutionizing the Business Landscape: Harnessing AI for Innovation, Strategy, and Success" featuring Stefan Youngblood, the innovative entrepreneur and founder of HireBlack.com. In this unique keynote, you’ll discover how to harness the incredible abilities of the most widely used chatbots, including the powerful Chat GPT, to streamline your work and achieve your goals. From use cases to prompt creation, you’ll get a comprehensive understanding of these tools and how to effectively use them in various scenarios. Stefan will provide practical tips and examples to inspire your creativity and help you start implementing AI in your own projects. Don’t miss out on this empowering opportunity to take your ideas to the next level! Stay to get your questions answered during a Q&A at the end.
The lunch will include the annual RIoT Pitch Competition. That will allow audience members to hear from several entrepreneurs make pitches for their fledgling companies and try to win over judges who will pick a winner.
You can see the entire agenda at the link below.
Shoot to Thrill closes out Gig in the Park season
The 2023 Gig in the Park season has been blessed with great weather and even better music. Let's hope that concludes with Shoot to Thrill performing at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park on Thursday, June 15, from 6-9 p.m.
Shoot To Thrill is an all-female band from Raleigh that covers AC/DC songs primarily. They are known for being professional musicians with impeccable skills as well as full of energy for an entertaining stage show! See more info and videos by clicking on button below.
Gig in the Park is sponsored by Wilson Downtown Development and the Whirligig Park. It is a free concert and family friendly. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Food and beverages are for sale; ID required to purchase beer/wine.
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Financial services collects food for Hope Station
Several city departments do community service projects throughout the year. Our financial services department recently held a "Spring into Action Food Drive" during which they collected nine boxes of non-perishable food and canned items, which was delivered to Hope Station's food pantry. Great job, ladies and gentlemen!
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NEW SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM ALERT 
There is still time to sign up for our Summer Youth Volleyball Program for ages 5 - 18. Games and practices will be held on weeknights during the summer. Volunteer coaches are needed as well.
For more information contact Brian Massey at (252)296-3361 or bmassey@wilsonnc.org.
Register at:
wilsonnc.org/webtrac
Recreation Park Center
Reid Street Center
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Pools are OPEN for the Summer!
We are thrilled to announce that both pools at Sunset Recreation Center and Reid Street Recreation Center are now open for the summer season! Dive into the refreshing waters and enjoy a fun-filled aquatic experience with your family and friends. To plan your visit, please check the weekly pool schedules posted on the Wilson Parks and Recreation Facebook page. As pool hours may fluctuate based on staff availability, we recommend staying up to date with the latest updates to ensure a seamless swimming experience. Don't miss out on the opportunity to beat the summer heat and make lasting memories at our community pools!
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