HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay_27_2008_Budget_MeetingIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
MAY 27, 2008
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session on
Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 5:30 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing
Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
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,
and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 17, 2008 FOR THE SHEPHERD'S
VFD: Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey said pursuant to G.S. 69-25.11, a public hearing was needed
before the Shepherd's VFD could expand its service area to six miles.
MOTION by Commissioner Tice to call for a public hearing on June 17, 2008 at 7:00
P.M., regarding Shepherd's plan to expand from a five to six mile fire service district.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Fund Balance: Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein said the 08-09 budget had a
13.93% fund balance. She said several years ago, the board requested the staff to maintain at
least a 12% balance while the Local Government Commission recommended around 8% (general
fund balance equal to at least 8% of general fund expenditures).
New Positions: Blumenstein said eight new positions were recommended in the budget,
but it was anticipated that a paralegal position would be added to the social services budget.
Capital Outlay Requests: Blumenstein said $3,081,292 was the recommended total for
all vehicles and equipment, and $2.2 million had already been cut.
Commissioner Johnson said vehicles were better made today than years ago, and a person
could probably get around 150,000 miles on them. He said some inferior cars were made, such
as those with faulty wiring, but if the drive trains were sound, the vehicles could be used longer.
Commissioner Robertson said the military reviewed vehicle downtime as well as repair
costs in determining when vehicles needed to be replaced.
Johnson mentioned the Inspections vehicles. He suggested that mid-sized trucks such as
the Chevy Colorado, GM Canyon, Ford Ranger, or Dodge Dakota be considered. Johnson said
the Inspections employees could look at these models to determine if they had adequate space.
He said the gas savings over the life of the vehicle might be worth the costs.
County Manager Mashburn said in the past, it was realized that full-size trucks could be
purchased for about the same costs as smaller ones.
It was agreed the staff would re -review the vehicle replacement list and determine if any
vehicles could remain in the fleet at least another year.
Capital Reserve Fund: Blumenstein said $1,898,075 was the estimated capital reserve
fund balance at June 30, 2008.
County -Wide Fire Tax District: Blumenstein said six cents was the tax rate used for the
county -wide fire district, and this included the one penny set aside for improved insurance
ratings. Blumenstein said the Troutman VFD had been deleted from the county -wide district
and included with the voted -in tax districts.
Robertson noted that in seven years, when the Lake Norman VFD became eligible to
seek a voted -in district, funding changes would have to occur in the county -wide fire tax district.
Voted Fire Districts: Blumenstein said the voted -in fire departments requested the
following tax rates: East Alexander @ 5¢; Mt. Mourne at 3.25¢; Shepherds & 6.5¢; and
Troutman at 5¢. (She mentioned the cut from 3.50 to 3.25 was made at the request of the Mt.
Mourne VFD Board of Directors.)
Sales Taxes: Blumenstein said the sales tax revenues were down, and the county's goal
would not be met. She said the original estimate for this year was $38 million, but it was now
estimated to be closer to $36 million.
Blumenstein said that in regards to rising fuel costs, significant increases were included
in the budget and the staff would review consumption.
The following departmental budgets were then reviewed, but no changes were made to
the county manager's recommendations.
Commissioners, Administration, Personnel/Safety, Elections, Finance, Tax Adm/Land
Records, Tax Collector, Mapping, Reval, IT, Register of Deeds, Vehicle Service Center, Legal,
Economic Development, Sheriff/Jail, Animal Control, ECOM, Fire Marshal, Office of
Emergency Management, Public Safety Outside Agencies, Planning/Development, Building
Standards Center, Cooperative Extension, Health, Human Services Building, Mental Health,
Veterans, Debt Service, and Transfers to other Funds.
• In regards to Tax Adm/Revaluation, a trip will be made to Mecklenburg County to
inspect a new spatial software.
• Commissioner Williams asked if roofing schedules were used, and Mashburn said the
staff frequently inspected the roofs and tried to be aggressive when repairs were needed.
• Commissioner Williams said it was difficult to see the lettering on the Tax
Administration Building. Mashburn said the staff could probably improve the sign's visibility.
Iredell County Government Center -South: Blumenstein said unused funds in this line item
would roll-over into the new budget. Mashburn said the former EMS base and boiler area would
be cleaned up and used for parking.
Vehicle Service Center: Blumenstein said the costs for automobile parts were charged back to
the departments but not labor. She said Solid Waste and Transportation paid for both parts and
labor.
Courts: Blumenstein asked for support of SB 2092 — "An Act to Repeal the Requirement that
Counties Provide Telephone Equipment and Infrastructure for Court Facilities." She said if this
legislation was enacted, the county would save approximately $40,000. (Court fees do not pay
all of the courts' telephone costs. If SB 2092 is not enacted, an additional burden will be placed
on the county.)
(The staff will write a letter to the county's legislative delegation and to the NCACC asking for
support of the new legislation.)
Special Appropriations: Commissioner Johnson mentioned decreased county growth. He said
with the exclusion of the agencies that had contracts with the county, all special appropriations
should remain at the FY 07-08 funding level.
Commissioner Robertson said that earlier this year a one-time contribution of $10,000
was approved for the Iredell County Kidney Dialysis Organization. He noted that for FY 08-09,
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the agency was recommended to receive $11,300. Mr. Robertson said it was never intended for
the agency to start receiving annual appropriations.
A couple of the other commissioners agreed that the $10,000 was a one-time
appropriation. They said the $10,000 was given to the organization to help until donations from
other sources could occur.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson for all special appropriation agencies to remain at
the current year funding with the exception of those the county had contractual obligations with
and for the staff to update the board about this fund at the next budget session.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
County Manager Mashburn noted that one special appropriation agency, Soil and Water,
would approach the board at a future meeting for $400,000 to repair flood control structures.
EMS: Blumenstein said EMS fee increases would occur in the new year. She said there was
much turnover in the department, and there were recruitment problems.
Commissioner Robertson asked about the salaries, and if this department had recently
been in a reclassification study.
Mashburn said salaries were based on the current market. He said one problem was due
to not many people taking the paramedic courses, and this was creating a shortage. He said an
incentive program was being developed similar to the one at the Inspections Department.
Inspections: Blumenstein said increased fees would occur for this department.
Public Library & Branches: Blumenstein noted that ten new computers were being
requested for the Harmony library.
The staff was directed to find out if one-half of the computers could be purchased in FY
08-09 and the others in FY 09-10.
Mashburn mentioned that a few years ago, the county had this type of computer
replacement policy.
In regards to the new Troutman library, Mashburn said $160,000 was budgeted.
Recreation: Blumenstein said the fees for many recreational programs would be
increased.
In regards to the Parks Reserve Fund, Mashburn said the funding had been increased
from $90,000 to $230,000.
Commissioner Robertson asked about the ropes course. He said that at a past meeting, a
recreation advisory board member mentioned that companies were not being allowed to use the
ropes course due to the recreation department lacking enough staff, even though the fees paid the
costs.
Blumenstein said most of the ropes course employees were part-time, and they had to be
highly trained. She said when all costs (FICA/insurance, etc.) were considered, the ropes course
fees did not cover all of the expenses.
Adjournment: Chairman Norman adjourned the budget session at 8:20 P.M.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board