HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay_27_2010_budget_minutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FY 10-11 BUDGET MEETING
MAY 27, 2010
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Special Session on Thursday,
May 27, 2010, 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 Steve Johnson
Frank Mitchell
Ken Robertson
Absent: Scott Keadle
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Tracy
Jackson, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman
RECREATION & PARKS: At the May 20 meeting, the Recreation Director
was requested to bridge the gap between revenues and expenditures by $100,000.
Recreation Director Robert Woody said the only programs not self-supporting
were soccer and baseball. He said that if the fees for both sports were increased by $25
per participant, that $106,500 could be raised, assuming the increase was not prohibitive
to the players. Woody said soccer players currently paid $16 in recreation fees and $40
in association fees for a total of $56. He said adding $25 per player would amount to
$81 a year. In regards to baseball, participants pay $40 in rec fees and association fees of
$40 for a total of $80. He said adding the $25 would cost each baseball player $105.
Woody said the association fees covered the uniform cost, practice field rentals, and
equipment. He said many families found it difficult to pay the current fees, and if the
board decided to implement higher rates, that a three-year phased in program was
recommended. (Adding a $10 year fee next year, another $10 the following year, and $5
during the third year.)
Chairman Norman asked how many players would not be able to participate due
to the costs.
Woody said it was unknown, because the county didn't offer scholarships. He
said some of the associations assisted their players, and it was unknown whether or not
players would be lost. He said Iredell County had the fourth largest soccer program in
North Carolina, and one reason was due to the low costs.
Commissioner Mitchell asked how the county's fees compared to other counties.
Woody provided the following information:
Entity
Cost
Rowan/Salisbury
$70 total fee
Cabarrus/Concord
$30 (city resident) $50 (non resident)
Harrisburg
$90 to $100 (depends on program)
Wilkes County
$30 (soccer & baseball)
Buncombe County
$65 (under six yrs. of age) $75 (under 10 years of age)
(Includes the uniform) The cost in the spring for soccer
is $58.
Charlotte/Mecklenburg
$100 per player
Mashburn said the only way to obtain $100,000 in revenue in a year's time would
be to raise the fees by $25.
Chairman Norman said he didn't feel the timing was right to raise the fees.
Chairman Norman and Commissioner Mitchell said they were satisfied with the
budget as presented by the county manager.
Commissioner Robertson said he would like to close the gap. He said the revenue
could help retain teachers and provide for other educational needs. Robertson mentioned
the health department had experienced cuts, and it was an agency for sick people. He
asked if the board was more concerned about soccer than education.
No changes were made to the recreation/parks fees.
Fire Services: Finance Director Blumenstein said no increases were being
proposed for the county -wide fire district and the voted -in districts. She noted that East
Alexander had requested funding of $131,472; however, the staff was recommending
$54,400 -- the same amount as FY 09-10.
Commissioner Johnson said the Lake Norman VFD had expressed an interest in
remaining in the county -wide district, and a list of conditions had been submitted. He
said the costs for the conditions were being evaluated.
Fire Tax Board Member Frank Phillips commended the ISO Ratings Program.
Mooresville Rescue Squad: Deputy County Manager Tracy Jackson said the
Mooresville Rescue Squad Chief had received a letter from the Town of Mooresville
asking for a merger with the Mooresville Fire Department. He said the squad members
were resistant, even though their response calls were down, and a compromise was trying
to be worked out. Mr. Jackson said additional information would be shared on the
situation.
Sheriff's Department: Blumenstein said seven School Resource Officers
(SROs) were budgeted for next year, and at this point, there was a $9,200 deficit. She
said a discussion with Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle had occurred, and he was informed
that seized funds might be needed for the shortage. Blumenstein said the schools paid for
security guards, but they did not have the powers to arrest. She said SROs were certified
law enforcement officers with powers of arrest.
Fire Marshal: Blumenstein said the Fire Marshal had recommended several
increases but many were not recommended.
Jackson said some fees were increased, and these occurred, after a review of the
costs being charged by other counties.
Commissioner Johnson asked if the county was required by law to inspect church
or nonprofit tents.
Mashburn said yes.
Jackson said the need for a fire permit was triggered when there was a tent that
was 200 sq. ft. or larger, or a canopy (without sides) 400 sq. ft. or larger. He said the fee
was $50.
Mashburn added that if food items were prepared, the health department was also
involved.
Johnson asked if the county could legally make an exception for nonprofits.
Mashburn said he thought this could be done. He said there might be some
interpretation problems because some for-profit restaurants might be at a nonprofit
function and offering to donate the proceeds to the event.
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Johnson said the for-profit agency had some control over the competition while
the nonprofit absorbed the costs.
OTIO by Commissioner Johnson to instruct Tracy Jackson to leave the
nonprofits at $50 and to adjust whatever fees the staff thought would be appropriate to
arrive at the same amount of revenue.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
SOLID WASTE: County Manager Mashburn said the Town of Mooresville
was taking some exception with the formula used to calculate the Town's share of the
Mooresville Transfer Station's operating expenses. He said the Town Board had not
taken any official action but discussions had occurred with the staff. Mashburn said
Mooresville was charged 30% of the operating costs for the transfer station; however,
excluded from the percentage was the revenue the county received from commercial
haulers who hauled commercial waste. He said that if commercial waste was brought to
the Mooresville Center, the haulers were charged $12 a ton for the county to transport the
trash to the Statesville landfill. Mashburn said this revenue had been deducted from the
operating cost which was around $55,000 (budgeted for FY 10-11). He said then, 30% of
the balance was charged to Mooresville. Mashburn said included in the cost was the
transfer of residential waste from Mooresville to the landfill with some of this being from
the Town while some was from the outside. He said Mooresville had been paying its
share on the transfer of all the wastes. Mashburn said the haulers were not charged for
residential waste. He said negotiations were underway with the Town officials, and there
was some indication they should be credited for the waste originating outside the town
limits. He said about 12,000 tons of residential waste came from Mooresville, and a
similar amount came from other haulers. Mashburn said that if it were decided to deduct
the cost of transporting all of the residential waste from the operating costs, and the
county absorbed this ($88,000), there would be an $88,000 savings for Mooresville. He
said this was an option and another one would be to start charging all commercial haulers
when residential waste was brought to Mooresville and the county transported it to the
landfill. Mashburn said this way, Mooresville and the private haulers would pay.
Commissioner Mitchell asked the dividing line for the haulers, especially if they
were in Troutman. He asked if the haulers disposed of the waste in Mooresville or
Statesville.
Mashburn said they would use the closest facility. He said the waste was handled
several times in the current method (compacted, placed on tipping floor, then
uncompacted, and last, placed on a truck in a compacted state with transport to the
landfill). Mashburn said private haulers paid for commercial waste, but they didn't pay
for residential. He said the proposed budget had the Town paying 30% of total operating
costs after the revenue the county received from the commercial waste had been
excluded ($55,000).
Commissioner Johnson said the only fair way would be to charge everyone by the
ton for residential waste.
Mashburn said if this occurred, Mooresville would experience some savings and
the county's revenue would go unchanged.
Blumenstein said the county would lose a little money.
Mashburn said the staff could determine an amount to break even.
Blumenstein said she would develop an option where the county would break
even in revenues. She said the information would be e-mailed or delivered at the June 1
regular meeting, and the FY 10-11 budget ordinance could be developed.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. (No other budget
sessions were scheduled.)
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Approved:
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Clerk to the Board