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BELHAVEN – The finance director has shared the proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2021-2022 with the Board of Aldermen. 

“We are not anticipating a tax increase nor rate increase. We’re holding steady,” said Lynn Davis, town manager for Belhaven. “We’ve made some strides in the last couple of years to make improvements all along so we’re not having to have these major dips or ups and downs so we’ve adjusted how we do things and that’s reflected in our budget.”

The proposed budget totals $5,665,831 and is approximately 2% increase compared to last year’s budget, according to town finance director Mimi van Nortwick. 

“Everything is based on revenue. The first thing we do in the town, we look at everything we think we’re going to earn and what income we’re going to get. That is the basis for what we spend,” van Nortwick said. “If we have a need that exceeds that, then we go into fund balance which is our reserves. Those special funds are restricted and can only be used in an emergency like a hurricane.”

This is van Nortwick’s last year as finance director for the town of Belhaven. Krystie Moore has been hired as van Nortwick’s replacement and will take over the finance department within the next few months. 

The Board of Aldermen will hold a workshop to discuss and make recommendations of amendments to the budget on May 24 at 6 p.m. A public hearing will be held at the next town council meeting on June 7 at 6 p.m. with an expected adoption date being June 14. All of these events are open to the public and will be held at the Belhaven Civic Center.