Knightdale, Wendell spend while Zebulon saves on holiday cheer [Eastern Wake News, Zebulon, N.C.]

Nov. 30--EASTERN WAKE COUNTY -- 'Tis the season of giving, they say.

And during the month of December, eastern Wake County town governments dig into their pockets to provide local holiday cheer -- some more than others.

Knightdale, for example, spends a little more than $13,000.

Every year, the town budgets $5,000 for the annual Christmas parade. It also spends $1,200 to rent a lift for installing and taking down Christmas lights, according to Knightdale Finance Director James Overton.

And this year, Knightdale spent $5,350 for 4,850 replacement Christmas light bulbs. That's not an annual purchase, Overton says: Knightdale only purchases additional bulbs or lights as needed, which is about every three to five years.

As for the workers in town hall, they get no holiday bonuses. But Knightdale purchases $30 gift cards for it's 67 employees -- that's $2,010 in gift cards. The gift cards are valid only at Knightdale businesses.

Altogether, the seasonal spending adds up to about $13,560.

"I certainly do feel like it's worth it," Mayor Russell Killen said. "It creates the kind of atmosphere in the town that attracts people. If you don't do these kinds of things, I think the town would suffer long-term."

The holiday expenses are offset by cutbacks to other departments, Overton says.

The town saves by employing fewer Parks and Recreation workers in December than in other months because of the athletic off-season. Also, street repairs are tempered because asphalt can't be poured in cold weather.

In Wendell, employees and retired town personnel are rewarded for the holidays, though not with bonuses.

The 40 town workers and five retirees each are given a $10 gift card -- a cost of $450 to Wendell.

The retirees are: former Town Manager Ira Fuller, former Police Chief Joe Privette, former Public Works employee Larry Johnson, former Police Officer Sam Williamson and former Water and Sewer Department employee Linda Lee.

Wendell spends on average about $4,300 per year on holiday decorations, said Wendell Finance Director Butch Kay. And this year, Wendell also spent $3,000 on new bows -- adding up to about $7,750 in Christmas shopping.

Meanwhile, Zebulon spends the most on holiday cheer.

The town hangs 9,085 light bulbs on its 54 downtown corridor trees and 60 pole decorations on Arendell and Gannon avenues.

Zebulon even awards its 60 employees $150 bonuses at Christmas time -- a cost of $9,000.

Decoration upkeep also has a price but is done based on need. The town has replaced a combination of 17 of its large wreaths found on Arendell Avenue and the smaller wreaths found in downtown since 2010, at a total cost of $5,500.

The town also spent $700 for new lights in the first year town departments called the Zebulon Municipal Complex home in 2010, and has spent about $1,000 each year over the last three years replacing bulbs, bad strands and damaged bows on wreaths.

Electricity costs are higher, too. Zebulon has paid an average of about $23,800 for electricity for the last three Decembers -- a 12 percent increase- while recording an average of about $21,300 per month January-November in that time.

Overall, Zebulon spends about $18,700 on the holidays -- yet, unlike Knightdale and Wendell, Zebulon saves on its overall December expense budget. (Knightdale and Wendell's December budgets exceed the 2010 monthly average, though not necessarily because of their holiday spending.)

Zebulon's expenditures since 2009 in January-November have averaged about $611,000 per month. Average expenditures for December over the last three years have been approximately $577,000 -- a 6 percent average savings in December.

Assistant Finance Director Bobby Fitts said Zebulon saves in December in areas it spends more throughout the rest of the year.

"Property insurance is paid in July, and that would skew cost distribution," Fitts said. "There's also not much employee travel and training in the month of December. We have conferences and classes we pay for throughout the year that aren't done in December, typically."

Fitts also said the water bill at Five County Stadium -- significantly higher during baseball season -- is an area the town saves. The water bill was about $2,400 in July of this year, while that cost dropped to about a few hundred dollars in October and November during the off-season and is expected to be lower in December.

It's easy to defend Zebulon's holiday spending so long as the town continues to save on expenses, Mayor Bob Matheny said.

"We really don't go overboard with it," Matheny said. "We don't spend a lot of money.

"I guess it just adds up."

Matheny said the ability to keep overall costs down when specific costs rise is indicative of the town's financial cognizance.

And the residents' interest comes first, he said.

"The town's money is the money of taxpayers," Matheny said.

"We're always looking for a way to provide the best product for the least cost. It's part of the responsibility that you aren't extravagant with what you do, but still do a good job."

Specht: 919-829-4826

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(c)2011 the Eastern Wake News (Zebulon, N.C.)

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