HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay_24_2005_Budget_Session_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
TUESDAY MAY 24 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session on
Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at 5:30 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing
Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve D. Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Others present: Kathryn Wellin with the Charlotte Observer and Carrie Sidener with the
Record & Landmark.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
Review of Schedules and Charts
(General Fund, Personnel, Capital Outlay Requests, General Fund Revenue, and Capital Reserve Fund, etc.)
Tax Valuations/Rates & Fund Balance Computation:
County Manager Mashburn said updated tax valuation rates had been submitted by the
Tax Administrator. Mashburn said the revised rates indicated there would be $334,644 more in
estimated tax revenues than previously projected. He explained the increase by the following:
Date
Valuation
1¢ Collected
Tax Rate Estimate Levy Collected
May 2,2005
$14,149,150,000
$1,360,724
43.5 $ 59,191,495
May 24, 2005
$14,229,150,000
$1,368,416
43.5 59,526,139
96.17%
(Collection
percentage rate)
$ 334,644
This is $334,644 more than
initially estimated.
Fund Balance Computation (Updated): Mashburn said the $334,644 would lessen the
amount of money needed from the fund balance (June 30, 2005) to balance the FY 05-06 budget.
He said only $2,465,356 would be needed compared to the original $2.8 million estimate.
Mashburn said the revised amount for the estimated unreserved, undesignated fund balance at
June 30, 2005 would be $14,433,328.00, and this would be 11.43% of the general fund budget.
He said the fund balance was a balance between spending less and receiving more in revenues,
and that several years ago, there was a board directive to always maintain at least 11%, if
possible.
In regards, to the 96.17% tax collection rate, Mashburn said the percentage could
probably be increased to 97%, but the efforts that would have to be expended to make the
increase would probably outweigh the benefits.
510 Law Enforcement: Commissioner Johnson asked if the staff had explored smaller vehicles
(engines) for some law enforcement positions.
County Manager Mashburn said yes, and a smaller vehicle, such as an Impala, might be
used for some positions. He said, however, most of the law enforcement personnel preferred a
larger car with better acceleration.
435 Tax Administrator (Capital Equipment): Mashburn said the $235,000 DMV software
request had been deleted from the budget due to the delays from the manufacturer.
536 ECOM/Communications: Mashburn said $300,000 was included in the budget for the
completion of the simulcast project.
421 Personnel: Mashburn said this department had requested one additional position. He said
the Facility Services Department had two unused half-time positions, and it was recommended
that they be transferred to the personnel department to fulfill the request.
655 Recreation: Commissioner Williams asked about the contracted mowing for fields and
grounds. He asked if the mowing couldn't be done in-house.
Mashburn said this had been discussed, but there seemed to be a difference of opinion
between a couple of department heads on the best way to provide the service.
52 Solid Waste Disposal Fund: Commissioner Johnson said he had read an article in one
publication that indicated most governmental agencies were steering away from the usage of balers.
Mashburn said the county would either have to add an additional baler in the future or
determine some other method. He said balers provided good waste compaction, and this was
why the county starting using them.
Commissioner Robertson said an economic study might be done on the labor needed to
operate a baler versus another method.
600 Health: Commissioner Robertson said the salaries/benefits for the sanitarians were currently
being reviewed, but he knew the environmental division tried to be self-supporting. He asked if
the fee schedules had to be approved at a specific time.
Mashburn said the fees could be adjusted at anytime during the year.
66 Health Care Benefits Fund: Commissioner Robertson asked the county's approach in
providing employee health benefits for the coming year.
Mashburn said an emphasis was placed on trying to duplicate as many benefits (cost and
coverage) as possible.
Chairman Tice asked if the county was still self-insured.
Mashburn said the county was self-insured through the North Carolina Association of
County Commissioners, and the provider was Blue Cross Blue Shield. He said the human
resources director would be invited to a budget session to further explain the benefits package.
542 EMS & First Responder Costs: Commissioner Williams noted that he didn't see anything
budgeted in the EMS budget for first responder equipment. He said the county -wide fire district
budget did not include the equipment funding in the 05-06 budget either, and this was because
the fire departments desired to work within their own budgets. Mr. Williams said $70,000 was
an estimated cost for the equipment, but he would try to pinpoint an actual figure.
The county manager said that by using the First Responders, the EMS response time was
shortened. He said the First Responders responded to about 50% of the 911 calls.
Johnson asked Williams about fire truck purchases in 2005-06.
Williams said the fire tax board had agreed to assist one VFD, and this was Sheffield -
Callahan. He said the fire tax board had agreed to pay 45% of the new truck's costs.
Review of General Fund Budgets:
410 -Commissioners (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
415- Administration (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
420- Human Resources (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
Mr. Mashburn said an in-house analyst was now on staff who could evaluate most of the
job positions, but a few might need outside analysis.
425 -Elections (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
430 -Finance (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
2
435 -Tax Administration & Land Records: (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
445 -Information Systems (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
450 -Register of Deeds (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
455 -Facilities & Support Service (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
457 -Meeting St. Service Center (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
458 -Government Center South (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
460 -Vehicle Service Center (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
465 -Courts (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
470 -Legal (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
475 -Economic Development (no change from co. mgr.'s recommendations)
Commissioner Robertson asked about the $30,500 budgeted in the economic development
budget for the Mooresville rail project. He said appropriating money to the project might imply
to some people that the county was in favor of light rail. Robertson expressed concerns about
the rail project, and he said the county should refrain from financially participating unless there
was the possibility that highway money might be lost.
Mashburn said the $30,500 was the continuation of funding for a rail study.
Commissioner Johnson indicated that once the rail study obligation had been completed, he
would not be inclined to assist anymore.
Note: On June 15, 2004, Mooresville Mayor Al Jones said an environmental review/preliminary
engineering study costing $6.7 million was planned for the north rail project and a 10% match of
$677,500 was needed. Mayor Jones said the City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County had agreed to pay
$494,500 leaving a balance of $183,000. He asked if the county would pay one-half of the $183,000 or
$91,500. The board in a 3-2 vote agreed to reimburse Mooresville $30,500 annually for three years.
(Johnson and Williams voted against the funding request. Commissioner Robertson was not on the board
when the action was taken.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice made a krwtion at 8:30 p.m., to adjourn the meeting
until Thursday, May 26, 2005 for the second budget session.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approval:
3
Clerk to the Board