About Us
Our Primary Mission
To make the greatest little
town in NC even greater
through transparency in
local government.
Critical Town planning and financial information that is not available elsewhere.
- Follow us on Facebook
- Go to "Downloads" below for essential information.
THE BIGGEST UNDERTAKING IN VALDESE HISTORY!
The "saga" started with expert recommendations and Council consensus to repair public safety facility for $700,000, in August 2018, but has grown by 12-fold, and beyond...[see downloaded saga]:
- Sept 2020 - vacate existing facility; hired architect to design new one for $6,500,000.
- Feb '22 - estimate up to $7,000,000.
- July '22 - estimate up to $8,800,000.
- Latest loan numbers = $344k annual payments x 40 years = $19,700,000!
- Late 2023 - will seek bids - then what?
Site Content
"Public Forum" is the basic purpose - "Downloads" provide essential information.
Valdese is a small town divided into five wards, but compact, with restaurants and shops along a few blocks of NC 70, known as "Main Street." While the town offers numerous recreational and entertainment opportunities for citizens to gather, there are no public forums in which citizens can interact with elected town council members. The fundamental role of our website is to make available information about town plans, finances and operations that is not otherwise or conveniently available.
Town Council Meetings
Normally held at 6:00 PM, the first Monday of Each Month.
- Agendas are available on the town website the preceding Friday.
- Meetings are not live-streamed or available on video.
- Minutes are first available with the agenda of the next meeting.
- Citizens may register to speak for up to 5 minutes, but...
- May not ask questions or engage during the meetings.
- Town employees, on the other hand, do engage.
The Important Issues
The largest undertaking in the town's history is a proposed new public safety building.
Driven by present and former town employees, progress is not readily made public.
The most urgent financial matter facing the Town Council is setting an ad valorem tax rate which will determine how much of the 38% average Burke County home values will be added to Valdese property taxes.
The continuous huge demand on Valdese revenue is the $5,700,000 compensation budget that supports a staff-size double that of Longview and other similar towns.
How to Stay current?
Information on all of the big issues will be updated as new information becomes available - from Valdese, State, and federal resources such as USDA. Meanwhile:
- Downloaded files will be added from time to time, with updated details.
- You can be added to an email "blog list" for periodic updates upon request to citizens4valdese@gmail.com.
Citizens for a Better Valdese is an information website, dedicated to transparency in our Town's governance.