Next week's paper

Here's what I am working on for next week (subject to changes, additions and deletions):

— I'll follow up a bit more on the town budget and address some of where the town manager thinks the town is going, revenue-wise, in the coming years. Plus, there are a few other cost-cutting moves being considered.

— The county released its proposed budget this week, with a revenue-neutral ad valorem rate of 85.8 cents. The total budget is more than $5 million under last year's total. I'll have some fast facts on what's being proposed. Considering I am sitting on both town and county budgets (not literally, but the town's paper copy is quite fat), county information is likely to come in installments as work sessions occur. The public hearing in Hillsborough is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21.

— The church story will be coming now that I settled a background research issue that was bugging me (and town staff). Apparently, the church at its current address did not exist in town records. But that's a story for another day ...

— We'll have some pictures from this weekend's garden tour, Faulkner's opening and lots of other goodies.

We will also have two interns from Carolina Friends School joining us for two weeks beginning next Tuesday. We've done some brainstorming on a project they can work on while here, but as always, we're open to suggestions.

One last note — the Burwell School is having a Pet Appreciation Night during Last Fridays, and they are currently accepting cute pet photos as part of a contest. Photos in any form — digital, 35 mm, old-timey sepia tone — can be submitted by May 28, with judging to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 29.