Mayor Lawson
As your Mayor, we have been through a lot together. We have survived a substantial loss to our sales tax base. However, with careful and more efficient spending we have been able to manage our assets and have kept our property taxes at the same rate for the past three years. I am disheartened when I see the county commission raise our county property taxes. Each of us need to take a more active part in our county government and get a better understanding of what is going on in the entire county. Sometimes we tend to forget that the county government has an effect on our lives as well as our finances.
I am very proud of our Town. The Board of Aldermen and the city workers have pulled together to keep costs down and provide services at the same level without additional funding. Unless some financial disaster occurs, we do not foresee a tax increase or any change in the Town’s services. Our future plans are to improve our services as much as possible.
Our Town has many reasons to be proud. Our police department has won two national awards for traffic safety. One award, the Clayton J. Hall Award, is the highest traffic award in the country. We also have the highest offense closure rate for crimes committed in our Town than any City or Town around us! Our police department has averaged a 45% closure rate since 2000. Our Town was also featured on the CBS Early Show, an honor that was only given to ten (10) Towns or Cities across America. I think the Town’s feature was well presented. If you saw it I hope you were as proud of our Town as I was. If you missed the feature it is available for viewing at our Library. You may call the Library at 357-4011 for further information.
Our public works employees are working together as a team to provide as many services as possible with the assets we have. They take pride in making many of the beautiful Christmas decorations that you see along Main Street.
We are doing everything we can to attempt to lower our fire rating. Our fire department is working hard to prepare for our inspection. This could mean lower homeowners insurance costs to you! I will keep you posted on any developments in this area.
The Mount Carmel PTO is trying to raise money for new playground equipment for Mount Carmel Elementary School. If you desire to donate to their efforts you may contact Kim McCann at 357-9293. We can never do enough for our children. They are the future of our country.
If there is anything the Board or I can do, please feel free to call the Town and express any concern.
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