HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 10 2003 budget meetingIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION MINUTES
JUNE 10, 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Fiscal Year 2003-04
budget session on Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., in the Iredell County
Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street,
Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Marvin Norman
Sara Haire Tice
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Call to Order by Chairman Johnson.
REQUEST FROM THE TOWN OF HARMONY FOR ADOPTION OF A
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR SR
2133/CRANFILL ROAD: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to approve a resolution in
support of road improvements for SR 2133/Cranfill Road as was requested by Harmony
Town Mayor John Ray Campbell.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
TO
GRADE, BASE, AND PAVE 0.35 MILES OF SR 2133, CRANFILL ROAD TO
CONNECT TWO PAVED ROADS IN IREDELL COUNTY, THUS ELIMINATING A
MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, USING URBAN
DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Division of
Highways proposes to:
Item 1 ($90,000): Grade, base, and pave 0.35 miles of SR 2133 (Cranfill Road) to connect two paved
roads. This request is pursuant to a request by Mr. John Ray Campbell, Mayor of the Town of Harmony,
and will be funded through the urban discretionary funds of Mr. Frank Johnson, a North Carolina
Department of Transportation Board Member.
THEREFORE, we the members of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, the official
governing body of Iredell County, North Carolina, do hereby authorize the North Carolina Department of
Transportation and Division of Highways to improve SR 2133, Cranfill Road.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto authorized the Chairman to set his hand and
cause the seal of the County of Iredell County to be affixed this 10°i day of June 2003.
COUNTY -WIDE FIRE DISTRICT FUND: Finance Director Blumenstein
noted that $35,000 would be added to the 537700/Refunds of Taxes Paid line item due
to an annexation error and Davis Community Hospital. Mrs. Blumenstein said no
changes were being recommended for the county -wide tax rate of 5¢.
Fire District Board Member Frank Phillips said the volunteer fire departments
(VFDs) submitted line item budgets, and the estimated revenue from the five -cent tax
was allocated to them on a needs basis. He said most VFDs were using some paid
firemen. Phillips said one concern he had pertained to the physical plants of some
departments. He mentioned that centralized purchasing might save money, and it
wouldn't cost the individual departments that much. He said the "biggest hurdle"
would be to find someone to handle the purchasing.
Commissioner Williams said the Fire Tax Board had a plan for trucks but not for
the physical plants.
Phillips said this probably needed to be worked on this year.
Williams said that if the centralized purchasing occurred, he felt the departments
in the voted districts should be included.
County Manager Mashburn said the VFD contracts would probably need
something added pertaining to the purchasing method.
Commissioner Norman asked how much was purchased in a year's time.
Phillips said around $3 million.
EAST ALEXANDER FIRE DISTRICT: Blumenstein said the FY 03-04 tax
rate for this department would be reduced from 4.25¢ to 3.5¢.
MT. MOURNE FIRE DISTRICT: Blumenstein said the FY 03-04 tax rate
for Mt. Mourne would remain at 3.25¢. (A total of $16,145 was recommended for
capital reserve.)
SHEPHERD'S FIRE DISTRICT: Mrs. Blumenstein said a $65,800 cut was
made to the Shepherd VFD request, and this occurred in an effort to maintain the 4.25¢
tax rate.
COURTS: Mrs. Blumenstein reviewed the Clerk of Courts request for four
work station cubicles at the Hall of Justice, and five two-line phones at the Government
Center South. Blumenstein gave the following quotes for the requests.
1) Two phone lines for Government Center South to be shared by five offices
$ 250.00 — five 2 -line phones
100.00 — one-time charge for line installations
960.00 ($80 per month for two tines — Clerk of Court Turner said long distance was not needed.)
$1,310.00 investment for first year
(County to provide inside wiring/jack termination for 28 voice & data lines to be
activated in the future.)
2) Four cubicles, 80 inches high with doors for privacy
Option A: $11,161 -cubicles w/ walls only, using existing desks and seating
Option B: $14,309 -cubicles w/ work surfaces and existing seating
Option C: $17,620 -cubicles w/ work surfaces and new seating
It was the consensus of the board members to pay for thehp ones ($1,310) using
funds in the Government Center South budget (line item 458-5355.00/amount available
$15,000).
It was the consensus of the board members to delay the purchase of the cubicles,
and perhaps approve a budget amendment later in FY 03-04. Due to the anticipated
delay in the opening of the Government Center South building, the board members
noted there would probably be some savings realized in contracted services (security
guards). Any savings could then be applied towards the cubicle purchases.
FACILITY SERVICES: An amended budget summary sheet (manager's
recommendation) was distributed. The revised budget showed an $11,870 savings
found from contracting out for mowing services. The manager's recommendation also
eliminated one maintenance technician position.
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SOCIAL SERVICES: Mrs. Blumenstein said it was recently learned that
additional space might be available at the Goldstein Building (Walnut Street). She said
that at the present time, a section of the building was being leased to the social services
department and more space was needed.
OTION by Commissioner Norman to add an additional $4,000 to the Social
Services budget (rental) for the purpose of leasing additional space at the Goldstein
Building with the understanding that $1,800 would be in county funds and the
remaining $2,200 would be from State reimbursements.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
LIBRARY: County Manager Mashburn said that recently Mooresville Town
officials had advised of an overpayment of funds for the Mooresville Library. He said
that instead of Mooresville sending a refund, the Town officials had requested for the
county to deduct $233,000 from the FY 03-04 appropriation. Mashburn requested that
Finance Director Blumenstein amend the budget to show a $553,000 expenditure, and a
revenue of $233,000 for the purpose of trying to maintain State funds.
budget.
PARKS & RECREATION: No changes from manager's recommended
TRANSPORTATION: No changes from manager's recommended budget.
911 FUND: No changes from manager's recommended budget.
CAPITAL PROJECTS: County Manager Mashburn noted that when it was
time to build the next cell at the landfill, there should be adequate funds available.
SOLID WASTE: No changes from manager's recommended budget.
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Commissioner Tice said Sheriff Redmond had
requested four new deputies. She mentioned these were "troublesome" times in the
county, state, and nation, and she felt the request was justified.
County Manager Mashburn shared a survey done by Cleveland County that
indicated the current staffing at the sheriffs department was adequate enough to protect
the county's citizenry.
Chairman Johnson said many of the deputies preferred to work overtime instead
of having part-time jobs elsewhere. He said funds for overtime might be added to the
budget rather than hiring more deputies.
Commissioner Madison and Chairman Johnson then shared suggestions on how
to reduce the manager's proposed tax rate of 44.5¢.
The suggestions included: cutting the schools' appropriations from 5% to 4%,
delaying the jail annex (Hwy 21 site) until next year ($303,000), reducing capital
reserve by various amounts, and eliminating the four deputy positions and offering
overtime instead.
Chairman Johnson said he would like to reduce the tax rate, but leave the
funding for the schools.
Commissioner Tice again stressed the need for the four deputies. Tice said she
could not agree to any suggestions unless the positions were included in the budget.
Commissioner Madison asked how many more ad valorem dollars were in the
proposed budget compared to the one for 2002-03.
Blumenstein said $6.3 million, or there was a 12.6% increase.
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It was noted that the overall budget could already be decreased by: $326,200 in
Medicaid, $233,000 for the Mooresville Library, and $11,870 for Facility Services.
The board members agreed to allow the manager and finance director to review
the budget and work up some options on ways to reduce the tax rate.
ADJOURNMENT: OTION by Chairman Johnson to adjourn the meeting at
9:45 p.m. (Next Meeting: Thursday, June 12, 2003, at 7:00 p.m., South Wing
Conference Room/Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street,
Statesville, NC.)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board