HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 14 2002 Budget MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION
MAY 14, 2002
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Session on
Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at 5:30 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South
Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Karen B. Ray
Tommy E. Bowles
Steve D. Johnson
R. Godfrey Williams
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM: Board of Education
Chairman Vaughn Sprinkle, Interim Superintendent Dr. Julia Williams, and Finance
Director Terry Haas attended the meeting to discuss the FY 2002-03 funding needs of the
Iredell-Statesville School System.
Mr. Mashburn said a per pupil expenditure of $1,107 was recommended for the
upcoming year at a total cost of $20,889,090. He said $622,710 had been placed in the
contingency fund and could be appropriated if the state released the county's
reimbursements. In reference to capital outlay, the county manager recommended a total
of $3,585,765.
Dr. Williams said several areas in the school system's budget had been cut and
four administrative positions were eliminated through attrition. She said the system
needed extra money because of the new Lake Norman High School and the Third Creek
Elementary School. Williams said the system wanted to add Pre -K classes, but was
unable to do so because of the lack of funds.
Commissioner Williams said he understood the Smart Start money was supposed
to help with early childhood education classes.
Dr. Williams said no money had been sent from the state.
Sprinkle said the recent Leandro vs. North Carolina lawsuit would impact the
school system. He expressed concern about teacher supplements since neighboring
counties had 10 or 12% compared to Iredell-Statesville's 6%.
Commissioner Johnson asked if the money for the 595 charter students would
help the system.
Dr. Williams said it wouldn't make that much difference. She said the system
would only gain about $244,000. Williams said, "We budgeted it, paid it out, and didn't
receive it."
In reference to capital outlay, Dr. Williams said the system desired to purchase
five new buses ($250,000). She said the county would be given first refusal rights on the
Wayside property.
Sprinkle said the Fairingtosh Building would be vacated when the Alan D.
Rutherford School site was available. He said money would be saved by eliminating the
leasing arrangement.
Dr. Williams said the alternative school would be moved to Barium Springs
Home for Children. She said the program was for middle school and high school
students.
MOORESVILLE GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM: The following individuals
attended the meeting to the discuss the FY 2002-03 funding needs of the Mooresville
Graded School System: Board of Education Chairman Frank Fields, Superintendent
Bruce Boyles, Assistant Superintendent Roger Hiatt, Assistant Superintendent Barry
Shepherd, and Finance Director David Dutton.
The county manager said the current expense amount recommended for the
Mooresville schools was $4,669,325, and capital outlay was $1,146,835.
Dr. Boyles said his board approved the system's budget in March, and he knew
cuts needed to be made. He mentioned a new teacher supplement proposal the system
hoped to implement during 2002-03. Boyles also said:
• The system planned to purchase two new buses.
• The high school would utilize block scheduling during 2003-04.
• About 1000 students use the NF Woods facility during the day.
• The system desires to create a "long range plan/reserve" to aid the
community in funding the MGSD in the future. The initial amount placed
in reserve will be $500,000.
• Three teachers and three assistants will work at Mooresville's
alternative school, located in the cafeteria section of the N.F. Woods building.
• $525,000 is budgeted for renovations at the N.F. Woods Building.
• Since 1988, the system has doubled in the number of students.
• Mooresville will contribute $25,000 towards the renovation of the Iredell-Statesville
bus facility.
Commissioner Williams asked the representatives if they might be interested in
using the Barium Springs site for Mooresville's alternative school.
Boyles said there was a possibility, especially since the high school would be on a
block schedule in the future. He said block scheduling would allow enough travel time
for the students.
MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (MCC): The following individuals
attended the meeting to discuss the FY 2002-03 funding needs of Mitchell Community
College: President Dr. Doug Eason, Dick Lefevre, the Vice President of Finance and
Administration, and Gary Johnson, the Director of Facilities.
The county manager said the current expense recommendation for MCC was
$1,609,370, and capital outlay (special) was $550,000.
Dr. Eason said:
• MCC would own the Cherry Street facility in 10 years.
• MCC wanted to work with the area high schools in offering cosmetology classes.
(Property on Hwy. 115 (former CVS site) has been leased for the cosmetology school.)
• MCC desires to construct a new technology building at the Continuing Education
site on West Front Street. Additional funds ($1.3 million) is needed for the
structure. Alternate # 1 is a single -story building at $93 per sf totaling
$4,130,275. Alternate #2 is a two-story building at $80 per sf totaling
$4,539,033.
560: Planning & Enforcement: No changes from manager's recommendations.
650 -Library: A question was raised about the need for the bookmobile, and County
Manager Mashburn said he would obtain an activity report.
Mooresville Library: Mashburn noted the Mooresville library had been cut $25,300, but
this was the same 4.5% decrease that had occurred in all of the departments.
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MERIT SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES: Mashburn said he was recommending
the reinstatement of the merit system. He said the employees would be evaluated and
eligible for (1) no merit increase (2) a 1.5% pay increase (3) a 2.5% pay increase or (4) a
3.5% pay increase.
No changes from manager's recommendations.
CAPITAL RESERVE FUND: OTION by Chairman Tice to revise
Schedule F in the FY 2002-03 budget by deleting the four commitments and leaving the
estimated capital reserve fund balance as of June 30, 2002 at $2,721,202.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(The four commitments were: City of Statesville, Sherrill Industrial project,
Town of Mooresville and the purchase of DSS land. The DSS land purchase and the
Sherrill Industrial project reimbursements are no longer necessary. Payments to the city
and town will be made upon request.)
REVISION TO THE BUDGET MEETING SCHEDULE: Due to the budget
review sessions progressing faster than anticipated, the meetings scheduled for
Wednesday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 22, 2002 were cancelled. The next session
will be Thursday, May 23, 2002.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice at 9:30 p.m., move to continue the meeting
until Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at 4:30 p.m., in the South Wing Conference Room of the
Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC for a
presentation from the architectural firm of Martin Boal Anthony Johnson regarding the
Iredell County Government Center -South facility.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk of to the Board