BOYKINS—Town residents would pay the same amount of property taxes next year, but trash fees would double to bring in more revenue for the general fund under the current version of the town’s proposed budget for fiscal 2010.

Boykins’ proposed budget totals $244,800.

The town proposes to raise trash fees from $4.50 per month to $9 per month, or from $50 annually to $100 annually.

Boykins Mayor Spier Edwards said the town needs between $8,500 and $9,500 next year to help offest increases in insurance, hospitalization and retirement costs, as well as higher prices for diesel fuel, gasoline and water.

The largest price increase — about $5,000 — will go to Dominion Power. The utility is proposing to raise electricity rates.

Real estate taxes in the town are 20 cents per $100 of assessed value.

An additional 72 cents per $100 of assessed value is taxed by Southampton County.

“We didn’t want to go up on our real estate tax,” said Boykins Mayor Spier Edwards. “We felt like that was in line. The town council felt like (an increase in the trash service fee) would be more of a fair tax. More of the everyday citizens would be paying for this service.”

According to Edwards, the town picks up both trash and yard waste twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays and Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively.

“We can’t even maintain our trucks and we need some work done on them,” Edwards said. “We have cut corners. We have cut everything down to the minimum as far as employees go.”

A public hearing to discuss the proposed budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at the Town Hall.