[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603574,"mediaKeyId","2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477","parentId",2999925,"title","Commissioner proposes raising lowest county wages to $15 an hour; no final vote recorded","audioSeconds",134,"startMs",1665000,"endMs",1799000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477&start=1665&end=1799","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603574/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Commissioner-proposes-raising-lowest-county-wages-to-15-an-hour-no-final-vote-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603574-18c1b0d7b944b7e163ebdaab2911630a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178602&Signature=QvtOHzQv4XU4K3Kwk12iBaYRBN-2F8sjoL25PBJ8WxQsTV9j7bvaPt-1-pcZQMRmOvPpF3vcyV0HdzphfudjVxuXmmVLsFvf0B321IHTaLg3r4PA5HRfL1A-9USB4OneUOQCqpZVc4wvnz10GJQ~5LhGVGhgTYOHO6XxjFuTSz6TIooPqTKnkCGZzEF6-Yhh11HoVSpxCTHJJeZxHk~jKJQAm4RJAOb5SXhA9LWaMrgao7ripYbNqP4gY1Xg1s8-SiUp~7Q4WPdtcMDs2LqvfjRvA-5Tonm6fJL2j57zCxcGH2qh0CVGQE9q1iCdVScJRtJ~~EANR8A~Lg55Buq1XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Swain County","date","2025-04-15T23:22:15.297Z","article","A motion was made at the April 15 Swain County commissioners meeting to raise all county employees earning under $15 per hour to a $15 minimum wage.

One commissioner said there are “10 total” employees currently paid below $15 an hour. Supporters said the pay increase would be modest relative to other expenditures and argued the county should prioritize pay for frontline workers. One commissioner said the pay increase “was supposed to have been took care of last budget,” and urged the board to act quickly so affected employees see the increase on the next paycheck.

Members debated feasibility, with at least one commissioner observing that some members were not present during last year’s budget decisions that were intended to address pay. No roll-call vote on the motion appears in the public transcript; the record shows discussion but does not record a final outcome.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Swain County Commissioners - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A commissioner moved to increase county employees earning under $15 an hour to $15; speakers said about 10 employees would be affected and that the issue was expected to have been addressed previously. The transcript shows discussion but no recorded final vote.","taxTitle","Swain County, North Carolina","taxId",73855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603579,"Swain County reports $9.66 million in year-to-date revenues; health department receives $1,323 state grant",364,52000,416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477&start=52&end=416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477/thumbnail_52000.jpg","/articles/6603579/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Swain-County-reports-966-million-in-year-to-date-revenues-health-department-receives-1323-state-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603579-eb24220c69d58f12c353f60224883fcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178602&Signature=eo~glnlBy9ASJ2N5oh7VcbjnaOcd8dS8bsc3YUos2mtPcOQ0O6vGCD3QE8dzzEPItHV6HxJNYEdu4gTNe9eLVMxbiUyzMO5NY4tdlIy2lx-88YMk6gi~XGhCh-B6g6h3RIzGXIqMVu6AGflkcMk1jY~1ExPQVjWSJSCQxW1VVGHC24Xq~jhuKtzuivWeZ2ApPT7UX1Wt4SGu2aa6B4YrIuMtoZA7sCcl7ZbJ8RI1Cud8TwE7L1PGeUCQQd402huuvG9JnUX10aV7-hTX7yacMy0lA9eAD9aw47Soc7Z1t6r2gSxtLt~vleP0Iutjvtsfy0pXmSKgjEoCiIYqYGzSWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 15 meeting the county tax collector and finance staff reported March and year-to-date revenues and expenditures and commissioners accepted the reports.

The tax collector, identified in the record as Miss April, reported year-to-date ad valorem and fees of $8,484,721.61, year-to-date solid waste fee collections of $1,169,272.98, and total revenues year-to-date of $9,663,994.59. She said the percentage of budgeted taxes collected was 45.54 percent and that ad valorem and fees collected in March totaled $385,696.33; county vehicle tax collected for March was $59,246.71.

Lottie read the county financial report for March 2025. She said general fund revenues for the month were $1,486,600.71 with year-to-date general fund revenues of $16,850,011.09 (45.24 percent of budget). Expenditures for the month were $1,355,939.64 with total year-to-date general fund expenditures of $15,791,711.49, leaving a current year surplus on the general fund of $1,058,299.60. Lottie reported the solid waste fund had a year-to-date surplus of $343,915.71. She reported the social services fund showed a year-to-date deficit of $1,306,202.68 and the health department fund showed a year-to-date deficit of $521,603.68; staff explained some state reimbursements are a month behind and that some program costs are county dollars not fully reimbursed by the state.

Commissioners also approved Health Department budget revision number 6. Lottie said the Health Department received an additional $1,323 from the state for child-fatality-related work; the revision puts the funds into salary, FICA and retirement line items to cover time allocation for that program. Lottie and commissioners clarified the money does not represent an additional individual salary payment but is applied to salary expense lines based on staff time allocations and is used to pull reimbursement from the state.

Motions to accept the tax collector report, accept the financial report, and approve the health department budget revision were made and passed unanimously according to the transcript.","Tax collector and finance staff reported March revenues and expenditures. Commissioners accepted the financial report and approved a small Health Department budget revision (an additional $1,323 from the state to cover salary-related expenses).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603584,"Swain County approves higher building inspection fees to boost revenue",435,642000,1077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477&start=642&end=1077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477/thumbnail_642000.jpg","/articles/6603584/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Swain-County-approves-higher-building-inspection-fees-to-boost-revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603584-679d45172d7916ec443b50cd4d68ac90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178602&Signature=XT8bYz98EvCFpuP-ieXGqrPesbblPr6SCU8rGhqUVPIn6He0MSp9IW6t7LRgzKhq2icB5N8JHXND5x0h8hNhXXABrT~YczdvIyBb8DRMv695tAfiCZAbnYS6BF04n9fn02vAQiEWR-ktv4zlJRImTOZ66Zfa26tOcwiHysL-wfv5jjof7pqw6~XFgsKSO09TMUpAoFoqqIAU5D70Salsuxp-BLVEXc-d4w70Arj7wZEgw7-YQY92Ni6WUKt3eT-hHfychZJDAAh4v8teNx62H8ZPN~dox2wYaj07X18kacx8RwmYy9pukEKE5bkJk6iUtRIhJ6z0OlfjBsJk9BmzsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Swain County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new building inspection fee schedule on April 15 aimed at generating additional revenue for inspection operations.

Jason, a member of the county inspections staff, told the board the proposed changes were intended to “maybe generate a little more revenue, maybe help out the county a little bit.” Commissioners and inspection staff described the new schedule as broadly in line with nearby counties while noting local variations such as some counties’ flat administrative fees.

Staff said the county’s approach keeps permit administrative costs lower for applicants by not collecting the administrative fee until a permit is signed for and picked up. Commissioners and inspection staff said the county also increased a common single-visit fee from $80 to $100 to reflect travel time and rising costs for inspectors.

The board noted that some neighboring counties have flat administrative fees (the transcript referenced examples such as Cherokee, Jackson and Graham counties), and that travel time for inspectors in a geographically large rural county contributes to cost. After a motion and second, the fee schedule passed unanimously.","Commissioners unanimously approved a revised inspections fee schedule, including raising the one-trip inspection fee from $80 to $100, to better align with neighboring counties and offset inspection program costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603589,"Swain County commissioners table $543,000 revaluation contract with Vincent Valuations",509,1097000,1606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477&start=1097&end=1606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999925-9221a75934fada50701223af4c3e3477/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","/articles/6603589/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Swain-County-commissioners-table-543000-revaluation-contract-with-Vincent-Valuations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603589-6180e73758f376f7b0ee9e6b28165458/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178602&Signature=ImE5PBMmKFbDAxxWjlpK~HZnkcvZwY0JgnB67~Doez8AFLFSXBJL8L05tBqzgGpVII7UzoZCWYJEom2UkrbIqXLKEZVKh~UFQWvULB2Bb1qkfzUwb3dvIiQSN55HpPjb0kudXaGHgZkB427iFHBfHrAUK3zofx4xz1q6UCTeFG9FRytxPWhAMV7VokV-k6k6canxKOb~q~icAF8Y1mcSfxMBXYVJYVonP0-cDwSDQKSJvegF5IEhz5a~ieV7KLwAs791Os5iajQaziS0XSKSEZNP1XrPtwpv-rjy6YXowonxE1SWUOCcbGk2p~ngiOwcGGvyBc38g4SzfJ3Lidy90g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Swain County commissioners on April 15 discussed a proposed countywide property revaluation contract with Vincent Valuations that the tax office estimates would cost about $543,000 and involve a full “list-and-measure” field review of properties.

Lottie, a county finance/tax office staff member, told commissioners the company would perform a full list-and-measure rather than an aerial-only review, that it would likely bring an eight- to 10-person team to work in the county, and that the firm’s timeline would begin this summer with the work taking about a year and a half so results would be ready for the county’s 2028 revaluation cycle. Lottie said the cost estimate is a per-parcel rate of $43 based on the county’s current parcel count and that other firms declined to bid because of Swain’s size.

Commissioners raised concerns about the cost. One commissioner said, “It’s a whole lot of money.” Other speakers noted that an aerial-only revaluation would be cheaper but risks missing unpermitted residences and structures that a field review would catch; Lottie said that field work yields photos and records that the county can use for safety checks and property records. Commissioners also discussed that the revaluation is required by the state and that the last full field revaluation was less expensive because it was performed by aerial methods.

After debate, a commissioner moved to postpone consideration to allow staff to pursue lower-cost options and to confirm the state’s minimum requirements; the motion was seconded. The transcript records the motion to table/postpone but does not include a clear roll-call vote in the public audio. The board directed staff to return with follow-up information on whether a less expensive method would satisfy the state requirement and on options for reducing the county’s cost.

Background: Lottie said the county must complete the next revaluation cycle on the state timetable and that doing it in-house would require substantial county manpower and credentialing the county does not currently have. She said Vincent’s estimate reflects a full, on-the-ground measurement rather than remote methods and that some neighboring vendors were unwilling to come to Swain due to workload or staffing constraints.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm the exact statutory or administrative revaluation requirements with the state and to return alternatives and cost comparisons at a future meeting.","Commissioners discussed a state-required full list-and-measure property revaluation with Vincent Valuations estimated at $543,000 and moved to delay a decision while staff seeks lower-cost options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioner proposes raising lowest county wages to $15 an hour; no final vote recorded

Swain County reports $9.66 million in year-to-date revenues; health department receives $1,323 state grant

Swain County approves higher building inspection fees to boost revenue

Swain County commissioners table $543,000 revaluation contract with Vincent Valuations