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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_3_2009_Budget_Meeting_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FY 2009-10 BUDGET SESSION MINUTES JUNE 3, 2009 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 6:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Vice Chairman Marvin Norman Steve Johnson Scott Keadle Ken Robertson Absent: Chairman Godfrey Williams Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Deputy County Manager Tracy Jackson, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Vice Chairman Norman. COMPENSATION FOR THE COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Keadle asked if the board members' compensation had been cut. Mashburn and Blumenstein said each board member would have a 25% reduction in travel compensation. CAPITAL OUTLAY SPENDING DEFERRALS: Blumenstein said the departments had not been polled on capital needs, but in an effort to determine items being delayed for purchase, the 07, 08, and 09 budgets were reviewed. She said a three-year average was obtained to estimate items that had been deferred in 2010. Blumenstein said the median for 07 through 09 had also been reviewed, and this was added to the deferrals to arrive at an estimate for FY 11. Blumenstein provided the following chart to illustrate the estimated ($2,748,673) deferred capital projects that might be needed in FY 11. MelAirual For 3 -yrs. Apprvaed Flewmn FY10 Mecum FY11 Lease Purdase FY07 FOS FY09 3 -Yr. Avg. FY10 Deferrals FY07-09 EsL As Prodded by Vehicles 1,181,100 1,021,995 620,400 941,165 - 931,165 981,580 800,000 John WIlians 285,570 Wffrals+501/ of Techrdajy 800,785 1,205,540 963,320 989,882 453,475 536,407 976,601 1,024,707 Median 365,780 Deferrals +50%of 329834 ofer 676,860 1,121,420 583,145 793,808 237,510 556,298 735,334 923,965 Median 981,184 2,658,745 3,348,955 2,166,865 2,724,855 690,985 2,033,870 2693,515 2,748,673 Capital To prepaefor debt REserve 2,50,000 2,500,000 seroioe on Jail and Courts Parks Rastores to F O& Peserve 230,000 230,000 09 Cti nal Bud Schools - restore CE to $1,466 2,528,070 2,528,070 - 2°/ inveasein pupils 813,630 555 pupils 2°/ Pay Increase (including Based on 6/30/09 benefits) 840,000 1 840,000 salary IeAs Based on 6/30/09 mart Plan 800,000 800,000 salary lents Operating Csts 634,000 Est. 211 Restore Inspectors staff to Fund for fill fiscal 10N. 324,805 1 year Restore Planning Dept. staff to Fund far fill fiscal 1000/ 121,270 year Total 8,931,940 11,540,448 Total with 3 -yr. lease purchase, 9,772,958 Blumenstein said the intention of the five year capital plan presented in 2008 was to work towards having $2.5 million for fiscal year 10. Keadle said it appeared that $4.5 million had been deferred, and $2 million had been deducted from fund balance. He said this would be $6.5 million that did not have tax revenue to make it up. He said things had to get better soon, or the budget would be worse off next year. Commissioner Robertson said that at the Winter Planning Session, the "bet' made by the board pertaining to the budget was that it would be bad this year, bad next year, and that in the third year, it would start to turn. He said this was the assumption. Robertson said he feared the economy might not get better in 2012, but it might not get any worse. He said if this occurred, "something had to give." Commissioner Keadle said he thought a hole was being dug, and it was being dug faster than what it ought to be. Commissioner Johnson asked the alternative. Commissioner Robertson said the county had one of the lowest tax rates. Mashburn asked if the board members wanted to give the staff any direction. He mentioned that a discussion had occurred with Mrs. Blumenstein, and the two of them anticipated using $2 million in fund balance next year. He said they had also tried to identify areas to cut another $2 million, and much of this would be in personnel costs. Robertson said that if the situation lasted for five or six years, then the gap needed to be bridged. He said the board had made a gamble that the county could weather the bad economy for three years. Keadle said the cash balance would be depleted in three years by $6 million and the balance sheet would drop more than $18 million. Commissioner Norman said there was no where to go to get the money. He said the county would have to use what it had, and use it well. In addition, he said the taxpayers were already paying more than they could now. Johnson said the county manager and finance director were highly competent, and they would be monitoring the budget on a daily basis. Commissioner Keadle asked what percentage $2 million represented in the budget. Blumenstein said 1.3%. Mrs. Blumenstein then reviewed the budgets for the following departments. 510: Sheriffs Dept: Blumenstein said the sheriff had worked with the staff online item cuts. Mashburn said the sheriff actually identified the areas to be cut. Commissioner Johnson mentioned that the first batch of mobile data terminals purchased for this department had given many problems. 515 CJPP: This is totally a state grant. The money is not spent unless received. 520 Jail 532 Animal Control: Blumenstein noted that a $25 administrative fee needed to be added for the cancellation of spay/neuter appointments. She said this was consistent with other counties, and the fee addition would be included in the FY 09-10 Budget Ordinance. 536 Communication 542 EMS: The EMS Director did a fee survey, and it was determined the county needed to bill the maximum allowable for Medicaid/Medicare. Blumenstein said if the maximum were invoiced, the county could net $900,000. She said the additional revenue had not been budgeted, but it would be a part of the budget ordinance. She said it would help budget year 2011. 2 Commissioner Robertson asked how close the county was on total call volume, response times, and needing additional services or bases. Deputy County Manager Jackson said there were different ways to achieve more services. He said 12 -hour shifts, rather than 20 -hr. shifts, had been discussed as a way to reduce the burden. Jackson said the employees, per unit, were busy. Mashburn said the Troutman area would receive a QRV, and this should hold the county until 2011. Jackson estimated that it would cost $500,000 to add another crew (6 people), and to purchase a new ambulance. He said a new building wouldn't be necessary if EMS leased or used another agency's (VFD) facility. Mashburn said different shift hours would eliminate the need for sleeping quarters. 544 Fire Marshal 546 Office of Emergency Management: This department if funded partially by grants. 555 Public Safety Outside Agencies (Rescue Squads) No future capital reserve was added. 20 County Wide Fire District - 6¢ tax rate recommended 22 East Alexander Fire District - 5¢ tax rate recommended (This department requested $532,800 to assist with a new building; however, only $50,900 has been recommended.) 23 Mt. Mourne Fire District - 3.25¢ tax rate recommended 24 Shepherds Fire District— 6.5 tax rate recommended 25 Troutman Fire District - 5¢ tax rate recommended 38 911 Coordinator Fund - This is the emergency telephone fund, and the general fund has received about $150,000 more than it had last year. With the amount of revenue received, approximately $300,000 in capital reserve will be set aside for future communication needs. 39 JCPC — Initial estimates reveal $301,890 for this fund. The county provides $30,000 as a match for the Barium Springs Home for Children program. 40 Capital Projects Fund — A project ordinance for the new building was approved on 06/02/09. 52 Solid Waste Disposal Fund: Fee increases are recommended as follows: Tire disposal fee should be increased from $75 to $77 a ton. Pallet disposal fee should be increased from $30 to $35 a ton. Land Clearing Debris fee of $35 a ton (previously was classified with yard waste) 66 Health Benefits Fund 67 Property & Liability 68 Workers Comp 562 Inspections — Additional research will occur on permit charges for commercial projects. This will include the breakdown, if any, for phased projects. Salaries are budgeted at 80% for the entire year of FY 10. County manager advised that as people retired or resigned throughout the year, employees in this department would be moved into the positions. 563 Planning — Salaries are budgeted at 80% for entire FY 10. 568 Building Standards 575 Cooperative Extension 600 Health — In a memo dated May 20, 2009, the health director indicated that $46,665 in Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) funding would be received during FY 09-10. The health director requested permission to use the funds for the following: $ 36,885 for a Processing Assistant III position $ 1,200 for departmental supplies/computer equipment to assist the PA 111 $ 830 to purchase a TV for educational DVDs in the WIC lobby along with other miscellaneous educational materials $ 7,750 for community awareness items to promote the new WIC food packages $46,665 The health department 09-10 budget will be amended to include the $46,665. 610 Human Services Building - Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare reimburses the county for space at this building on a square footage basis. 615 Contracted Mental Health - This is the contribution to Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare. 630 Social Services — This budget includes three new positions with all of them being partially funded with state and federal funds. 37 Transportation (This includes 620 Community Transportation and 622 ICATS operational funding.) Mr. Mashburn said a proposed budget ordinance would be drafted and sent to the board members. Additionally, he said any new fees or revisions in the Inspections budget, would also be sent to the board members prior to the budget's adoption on June 16. PROPOSED NEW METHOD FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AGENDA REQUESTS: Commissioner Keadle mentioned the health director appeared at the commissioners' 7:00 p.m. meetings when routine health department requests were made. Commissioner Keadle, a member of the board of health, asked the other commissioners if they had any problems with him presenting the health department requests which would eliminate the need for the health director to attend the meetings. None of the other commissioners voiced any problems with this arrangement. INCLUSION OF A ROADWAY PLAN IN THE 2030 PLAN FOR THE AREA AROUND EXIT 42 and WESTMORELAND ROAD: Commissioner Johnson asked if an item could be added to the June 16 agenda. He said a discussion had occurred with Troutman Town Manager David Saleeby and the Iredell County Planning Director about the area between Exit 42 and Westmoreland Road. Johnson said Troutman was receiving rezoning requests for this area, and the Town officials were concerned about there not being a land -use plan. Commissioner Johnson said the Planning Director was willing to negotiate a roadway plan with Troutman in order for it to be included in the 2030 plan. Johnson said that by using this method, the 2030 plan could be adopted without immediately having to amend it. He said the roadway plan would be similar to what had occurred with Mooresville, along with Troutman and Exit 42 north. No board members voiced any opposition. ADJOURNMENT: Vice Chairman Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Approval: 4 Clerk to the Board