With a chance to network and discuss local issues, William Pitt, Washington city councilman and Brian Alligood, Washington city manager, attended the North Carolina League of Municipalities Annual Town Hall Day last week in Raleigh.

Town Hall Days allow city and town officials, businesses and community activist leaders to visit Raleigh to meet with state legislators and Governor Pat McCrory.

“Our concern is the direction small towns are going and how to maintain our towns services and maintain the status quo right now,” Pitt said. “Not so much going further, but just to maintain the services we try to provide.”

It was an opportunity for Pitt as an elected official to talk to other elected members of government from cities across the state.

“It was nice to hear their problems and share our problems as well without much fanfair,” Pitt said. “We all face the same thing: to try and provide services in an economy which is not the greatest economy.”

The league provides a forum for the exchange of ideas with city and town officials from North Carolina.

An initiative for the NC League of Municipalities is to provide services and information that will assist city and town officials to help meet the needs of the residents.

“We shared our concerns through the North Carolina Legislative Actions Committee,” Pitt said. “Probably one of the biggest pieces of legislation that has come out of Raleigh: privilege license tags and how businesses will operate in municipalities. The fees that will be charged and the amount of money you’re allowed to charge a business. Those fees account for $16 million and you have to make up for the revenue shortfall somewhere.”

The league was founded in 1908 with 22 cities as founding members. The NC League of Municipalities promotes non-partisan advocacy and offers insurance, according to a press release.

“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with legislators and discuss public policy issues that have an impact on the residents of Washington, ” Alligood said.