HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay_24_2007_Budget_Session_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session on
Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing
Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Marvin Norman
Vice Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Godfrey Williams
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan
Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Assistant Finance Director Deb Alford,
Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Others present: Kathryn Thier with the Charlotte Observer, Daniel Goldberg and
Bethany Fuller with the Record & Landmark, and Lee Ann Sherrill with the Iredell Citizen.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
REVIEW OF BUDGET SCHEDULES: Deputy County Manager Blumenstein
reviewed budget schedules A-1. She said $22,401,703 was the estimated unreserved and
undesignated fund balance as of June 30, 2007, and the FY 2008 expenditures were estimated at
$158,225,140. Blumenstein said the FY 07-08 budget was presented with a 14.16% fund
balance (general fund).
DISTRIBUTION OF SPREADSHEETS SHOWING REAL PROPERTY VALUES
FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS: Blumenstein shared property valuations
for all parcels within each VFD's district including Lake Norman and Troutman along with
spreadsheets showing the values if these two departments were deleted from the county -wide fire
service district. She said the countywide district valuation (all VFDs with the exception of
Shepherds, Mt. Mourne and East Alexander) totaled $8,505,483,230 with Troutman alone
generating $1,089,494,952 and Lake Norman producing $3,311,664,893. Blumenstein said,
however, it was difficult to pinpoint growth for all areas due to some departments not being
coded by five -mile districts, plus motor vehicle values had to be estimated.
Commissioner Williams said the Troutman VFD had requested approximately $2 million
from the Fire Tax District Board. He said the fire tax board had delayed a response until the
board of commissioners rendered a decision about the VFD's request for a voted -in tax district.
County Manager Mashburn said it was rather late in the budget cycle to consider the
voted -in tax district request.
Blumenstein said the City of Statesville had a municipal election in October, and that
other municipalities had elections in November.
REVENUE & EXPENDITURE SPREADSHEETS: Blumenstein said that during
2007-08, cable television revenues would be received in a different manner. She said the cable
companies would be taxed through the Department of Revenue, and this agency would reimburse
the counties. She said fuel, postage, and employee mileage reimbursement costs would be
higher in the upcoming year.
Mashburn said the staff was exploring the possibility of renting vehicles vs. paying
employee mileage when there were out -of -county seminars and conferences. He mentioned that
the budget included a 2.5% cost of living increase for employees.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FUND: Mashburn said the county was self-insured
through the county commissioner's association pool and the health plan was administered by
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CIGNA. He said that if CIGNA challenged an employee claim, the action was actually on behalf
of the county.
BUDGET REVIEW FOR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS
(* = Budget was discussed but there were no changes from the county manager's recommendations)
*410 -Commissioners
*415 -Administration
*420 -Human Resources
*425 -Elections (This department will provide a list of possible elections during 2007-08.)
*430 -Finance
*435 -Tax Administration & Land Records Much of the increased costs in this department
will be for hardware/software replacements. It was mentioned that eleven unlisted houses
(no building permits) were discovered through the use of the new aerial/oblique photography system.)
*445 -Information Systems
*450 -Register of Deeds
*455 -Facilities & Support Services
*457 -Meeting Street Service Center
*460 -Vehicle Service Center
*465 -Courts
*470 -Legal
*475 -Economic Development (A decrease was noted in this department due to the elimination
of $6,000 for Centralina's CED program; $4,192 for Centralina's Regional Planning
Project; and $13,448 for Centralina's NC 3 Corridor Study. It was also mentioned that 07-
08 would be the last year the county would have to reimburse Mecklenburg County for the
Meck-Neck properties.)
Statesville Airport: Commissioner Johnson said the airport's runway was not sufficient to
handle newer aircraft, e.g., Lowes' new plane. He said the state/federal government had
promised a grant of $500,000 a year for three years, and this could be used for a new
runway overlay. Johnson said the city was willing to front the overlay costs if the county
agreed to delay or postpone the inter -local agreement reimbursements. He said no new
money was being asked from the county, and the only funding that would be lost was the
interest on the reimbursements. Johnson requested the board members to consider the
request, and he said more "concrete" information would be provided in the future.
Johnson also mentioned a 90/10 proposal between the city/county for airport fencing.
485 -Special Appropriations
NC Forestry Service: County Manager Mashburn said his recommendation for this
department was $52,853 rather than $49,095. He said the department needed a new truck,
and this accounted for the $3,758 increase.
Big Brother Big Sister: County Manager Mashburn said the local BBBS agency ceased to
exist; however, the $5,000 appropriation would remain in the budget. He said this was due
to the possibility that a new organization might operate the program
Mooresville Rescue Squad: County Manager Mashburn said the Town of Mooresville had
decreased funding to the Mooresville Rescue Squad due to the town's firemen now
providing first responder calls within the municipal limits. Mashburn said this would
decrease the county's appropriation to the squad because the funding formula was based on
the number of calls and the area served.
Fort Dobbs Alliance: This agency requested $20,000 and the manager's recommendation
was $10,000 (FY 06-07 level).
MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to increase the appropriation to the requested
amount of $20,000.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 1 (Johnson)
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ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Norman adjourned the budget session at 8:25 p.m. (NEXT
SESSION: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 5:30 p.m., in the South Wing Conference Room of the
Iredell County Government Center)
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board