The 2021-2022 city budget and rollback millage rate were both approved, and so was the malt beverage and wine application for Burra Burra and Tooney’s by the McCaysville Mayor and City Council.
The board unanimously approved the city budget that shows $171,533 coming out of reserve funds in the General Fund and Water and Sewer Service funds to make the budgets balance. Approval came during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday, September 14.
Using the rollback millage of 3.49 mills, which was unanimously approved, the city will collect an additional $3,612.80 in property taxes, according to the budget.
The budget originally passed unanimously, but before Mayor Thomas Seabolt adjourned the meeting, Councilwoman Susan Kiker said, “I was not paying attention when we voted on the budget, and I’m not in favor of the budget. Please make that in the record.”
Kiker was distracted during the vote because she was seen tvexting or viewing something on her cell phone.
The other council members had already voted in the affirmative, and the mayor was about to move onto the next item on the agenda, without asking if there was any opposition, when City Clerk Nancy Godfrey asked Kiker for her vote and she raised her hand indicating agreement.
Kiker has been opposed to approving the budget, particularly pay raises for police officers, since the process began at a workshop the end of July because “back in March when we decided to give the full-time officers take-home vehicles, it was decided that instead of getting a raise, they would get the vehicles.”
In other action, Councilman Jason Woody made the motion to approve the Burra Burra and Tooney’s malt beverage and wine application. “We are good with their application, as long as it’s (beer and wine) only sold within the walls of Tooney’s and Burra Burra.”
City Attorney Courtney Stuart clarified the wording of the motion as “to grant McCaysville Rocks LLC. a license to sell, and allow for the consumption of beer and wine as stated in their application with the condition that alcohol can only be served in the Burra Burra restaurant, in the Burra Burra outdoor patio seating, Tooney’s and the patio seating for Tooney’s as shown on their leased space of 25,935 square feet.”
Councilman Larry Collis then seconded the motion and the other members voted in the affirmative.
Now that the application has been approved by the city, Burra Burra and Tooney’s will not have to renew their malt beverage adn wine licenses until Seotember 2022.