STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA                   )                    OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS

                                                                        )                    STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT

COUNTY OF STOKES                                  )                    DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA

                                                                        )                    JUNE 29, 2005

 

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met for a budget work session (recessed from the June 28, 2005 budget work session) in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Building (Administrative Building) located in Danbury, North Carolina on Wednesday, June 29, 2005

at 6:00 pm with the following members present:

 

                                                Chairman John Turpin

                                                                Vice-Chairman Leon Inman

Commissioner Sandy McHugh

Commissioner Joe Turpin

                                                                Commissioner Jimmy Walker

 

                                                                County Personnel in Attendance:

                                                                County Manager Richard Morris

                                                                Clerk to the Board Darlene Bullins

                                                                Finance Director Julia Edwards

                                                                Assistant Finance Director Lisa Lankford

               

Chairman John Turpin called the budget work session to order.

               

Vice Chairman Inman delivered the invocation.

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT-GOVERNING BODY-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Chairman John Turpin opened the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT –GOVERNING BODY-PROPOSED 2005/06 BUDGET WORK SESSION

 

Commissioner McHugh presented a proposed budget for the Board’s consideration which reduces the tax rate to $.60 per hundred.              

 

Commissioner McHugh noted the following concerning the proposed budget:

 

·         Split the hold harmless in half with the schools

·         Maintained the County Manager’s recommendations

·         Suggestion to the Board of Education to fund $200,000 from their fund balance

·         Supplement for the teachers is included

·         Fly over moved from E911 to Mapping/GIS

·         Over ½ million from Hold Harmless to fund balance

·         Reclassifications and new positions as recommended by County Manager

 

Commissioner McHugh presented Board members with a proposed balanced Expenditures and Revenues totaling $39,267,262.

 

The Board discussed Commissioner McHugh’s proposed budget noting the following:

 

·         Funding school expenditures with hold harmless funding

·         3rd Floor renovations

·         Current tax rate

·         Must be Responsible budget for citizens of Stokes County

·         Vehicle purchases for fiscal year 05/06

·         Proceeds from financing included in Commissioner McHugh’s Proposed budget - $571,540

 

The Board continued discussion concerning the County Manager’s recommended budget.

 

Administration

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the new position in the Administration’s proposed budget = $103,698.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate all new positions in the County Manager’s recommended budget.  

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded the motion. 

 

The Board discussed including all the positions in the County Manager’s recommended budget.

 

Vice Chairman withdrew his second to the motion. 

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin withdrew his motion.

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate all new positions in the County Manager’s recommended budget except Social Services.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate all new positions in the County Manager’s recommended budget except Social Services. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the associated costs of the recommended new position (Benefit Clerk) in the Administration budget.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminated the computer and renovation cost $4400 for the new position recommended in the Administration budget.

 

Commissioner Walker seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against

the motion.

 

Longevity

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the longevity plan in the County Manager’s recommended budget

 

Commissioner Walker moved to eliminate the longevity plan in the County Manager’s recommended budget and to consider further plans for a complete look into the classification plan, salary structure, and possible longevity for the County. 

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

COLA

 

The Board discussed the elimination of the COLA as recommended by the County Manager.  The Board discussed the following concerning the proposed COLA:

 

·         COLA being given as a Bonus

·         Cost of COLA for entire year instead of for 9 months

·         COLA being a recurring cost for the County

·         Bonus being considered for full time and part time employees

·         Execution of the Bonus

 

The Board agreed to return to this issue at a later time.

 

Economic Development

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion eliminate ½ of recommended funding $18,125 for advertising the Economic Development Budget.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate ½ of recommended funding $18,125 for advertising the Economic Development Budget. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Elections

           

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the reclassification for the Election Assistant to Deputy Election Director from the County Manager’s recommended budget.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the reclassification for the Election Assistant to Deputy Election Director. 

 

Chairman John Turpin seconded and the motion carried (3-2) with Vice Chairman Inman and Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Emergency Communications

 

Commissioner McHugh moved to add the EMD Program for Emergency Communications at a cost of $25,940 with a $5,000 grant from NC Office of Emergency Medical Services. 

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the motion. 

 

The Board discussed the pros and cons of the budgeting the EMD Program for fiscal year 2005/06.

 

The motion carried (3-2) with Chairman John Turpin and Commissioner Joe Turpin voting against the motion.

 

Fire and Rescue

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate $10,000 designated for escrow for future land purchases and $1,170 for a computer for the Fire Association.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate $10,000 designated for escrow for future land purchases and $1,170 for a computer for the Fire Association. 

 

Commissioner Walker seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner McHugh moved to add the Firefighter and associated equipment $39,000 to the Fire Marshal’s recommended budget.   Motion died for lack of second.

 

GIS/Mapping

 

Chairman John Turpin moved to eliminate the recommendation by the County Manager to increase the permanent part time position in the GIS Mapping Department to a full time position. Position will remain as a permanent part time position.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the recommendation by the County Manager to increase the permanent part time position in the GIS Mapping Department to a full time position. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded the motion.

 

The Board discussed this position in relation to the proposed fly over in the E911 proposed budget. 

 

The motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Governing Body  

 

Commissioner McHugh moved to approve the motion that the Board of Commissioner pay for their own insurance.

 

Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion. 

 

The Board discussed the elimination of Governing Body insurance being paid by the County. 

 

The motion carried (3-2) with Vice Chairman Inman and Commissioner Walker voting against the motion.

 

Vice Chairman Inman moved to approve the motion that if any bonus or COLA was approved by the Board of Commissioners for the upcoming fiscal year 2205/06, the Governing Body would not be included in the bonus or COLA. 

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner Walker voting against the motion.

 

Information Systems

 

The Board discussed the request by IS Director Dianna Fulp and Economic Development Director Ron Morgan to reinstate the $25,000 eliminated by the County Manager for start of “wireless internet” for Stokes County.

 

Commissioner Walker moved to reinstate the $25,000 eliminated by the County Manager for start of “wireless internet” for Stokes County. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion failed 2-3 with Chairman John Turpin, Commissioner Joe Turpin and Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Jail

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to take the infra red exterior cameras and pan tilt exterior cameras out of being designated for Hold Harmless.  

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin withdrew his motion.

 

Legal

 

The Board agreed to discuss at a later date the possibility of hiring a DSS in-house attorney.

 

Planning

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the two clerical reclassifications recommended in the County Manager’s proposed budget. 

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the two clerical reclassifications recommended in the County Manager’s proposed budget.

 

Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion. 

 

The Board discussed the reclassifications submitted by the County Manager for the clerical and inspection staff. 

 

The motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion. 

 

Senior Services

 

Finance Director Julia Edwards requested the Board’s approval to submitted additional expenditures and revenues for the Senior Services Department that had been received after the submission of the proposed budget  to the Board.

 

Chairman John Turpin requested Director Edwards to submit a complete total at a later time for consideration to the proposed fiscal year 2005/06 county budget.

 

Sheriff’s Department

 

The Board discussed the amount of funding requested by the Sheriff’s Department for maintenance and repairs to autos that had increased from $65,000 to $74,003 in this year’s proposed budget. 

 

Clerk to the Board Darlene Bullins presented information from Support Service Supervisor Danny Stovall, which detailed how the budget is increased each year due to insurance payments for accidents, vehicles taxes, and deductibles that

are added to this particular line item.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to reduce the Sheriff’s Department line Item – Maintenance and Repairs to Auto to $65,000.  

 

Commissioner Walker seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Schools

 

The Board discussed the reinstatement of the ½ cent teacher supplement =$181,457 to the Board of Education’s fiscal year 2005/06 recommended budget. 

 

The Board discussed the pros and cons of reinstating the supplement to the County Manager’s recommended budget.  The Board also discussed the possibility of the Board of Education funding $200,000 from their undesignated fund balance.

 

Chairman John Turpin requested the Clerk to the Board to question Dr. Larry Cartner on June 30th whether the Board of Education could fund approximately $200,000 from their undesignated fund balance for the upcoming fiscal year 2005/06 budget.

 

Solid Waste

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to decease the number of greenboxes (20) which was recommended by the County Manager.

 

Free shipping is available with the purchase of at least 7 greenboxes.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to decrease the number of greenboxes for Solid Waste from 20 to 7. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner Walker voting against the motion.

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the clerical reclassification recommended by the County Manager in the Solid Waste proposed budget.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the clerical reclassification recommended by the County Manager in the Solid Waste proposed budget. 

 

Chairman John Turpin seconded and the motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner McHugh voting against the motion.

 

Enhanced E911

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the “fly over” from the Enhanced E911 recommended budget = $50,000.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the “fly over” from the Enhanced E911 recommended budget = $50,000.  

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Social Services

 

Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to eliminate the clerical reclassification recommended by the County Manager in the Social Services proposed budget.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the clerical reclassification recommended by the County Manager in the Social Services proposed budget. 

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion failed 2-3 with Chairman John Turpin, Commissioner Walker and Commissioner Joe Turpin voting against the motion.

 

Proposed Fiscal Year 2005/06 Budget

 

Commissioner McHugh moved to substitute the proposed budget submitted at the first of tonight’s meeting with a tax rate of  $.60 per hundred for consideration for the 2005/06 county budget. 

 

Motion died for lack of a second.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman John Turpin entertained a motion to recess the budget work session.

 

Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to recess the budget work session until Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 3:30 pm.   

 

Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

_________________________                                  _____________________________

Darlene M. Bullins                                                   John M. Turpin

Clerk to the Board                                                   Chairman