Ana Risano

1 week ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners has approved the town’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, which retains the current tax rate and funds several capital projects. On Tuesday night, Town Manager Paul Sabiston gave a rundown of the budget, which the town board has been closely monitoring since its first all-day retreat on the topic in March. The operating budget is estimated at $21.5 million, with $15.54 million in the general fund and $5.96 million for water and sewer.

1 week ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

With little flourish, the Aberdeen Board of Commissioners approved the town’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, which retains the current tax rate and funds several capital projects. On Tuesday night, Town Manager Paul Sabiston gave a rundown of the budget, which the town board has been closely discussing since its first all-day retreat on the topic in March. The operating budget totals just more than $21.5 million, with $15.54 million in the general fund and $5.96 million for water and sewer.

1 week ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

It’s been over a decade since the town made changes to the parking lot next to Downtown Park, which previously served the former police station. Now, it’s mostly used as park parking and by the weekly farmers market. On Tuesday, the Town Council looked at four options for updating the parking lot or transitioning it into another use. But the council members did not agree on one design and asked town staff to firm up some details before reviewing it again.

2 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

As a mother of three boys and mayor to more than 16,000 constituents, Taylor Clement knows a thing or two about loud excessive chirping. And though it’s not part of her maternal duty or Southern Pines mayoral responsibility, Clement lent her hand recently to the raising of five more new arrivals to town. Into her care was bestowed a bird’s nest full of five finely feathered finches, found nestled in a plant shipment to Gulley’s Garden Center.

2 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

Southern Pines planning staff continue to work on projects designed to implement the town’s guiding document for future growth. On Thursday night, the Planning Board reviewed updates on the second phase of implementation, which includes a handful of projects the Town Council directed staff to pursue at the end of last year. kAm%96 8F:5:?8 5@4F>6?E :D E96 E@H?’D a_c_ r@>AC696?D:G6 !=2?[ H9:49 H2D 5C27E65 27E6C 2 J62C @7 4@>>F?:EJ 7665324<] xE :?4=F56D 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A@=:4:6D E@ 4@?D:56C H96?