) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) JUNE 11, 2008
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a joint meeting with the Stokes County Board of Education to
discuss the upcoming
2008-09 fiscal year budget request in the Commissioners’ Chambers of
the Ronald Wilson
Reagan Memorial Building (Administrative Building) located in Danbury,
North Carolina on
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 12:00 noon with the following members
present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Personnel in Attendance:
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
Board
of Education in Attendance:
Vice
Chairperson Yvonne Rutledge
Member
Sonya Cox
Member Becky Boles
Member Bill Hart
School
Administration in Attendance:
Dr. Stewart Hobbs,
Superintendent
Executive Finance
Director Lanette Moore
Administrative
Assistant Ann Robertson
Executive Director
of Curriculum Donna Boyles
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the meeting to
order for the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Lankford delivered the
invocation.
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join both Boards with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Opening
Remarks
Chairman Inman
welcomed the Board of Education to the joint meeting.
Dr. Stewart Hobbs, on
behalf of Stokes County Schools, presented the following:
§ Expressed Board of
Education and School Administration’s appreciation for the joint meeting
§ This year’s
current expense request from Stokes County Schools is $11,343,314 with the
County Manager’s recommendation being $10,562,000
§ Major
concerns: salary increases, supplements,
benefits, utilities, charter schools; increase for these items amounts to
$627,000
§ Increase from last
year’s county budget for operating expenses = approximately $356,416
§ Without increasing
any other line item and taking into consideration the major increases to
benefits, utilities, etc, the Board of Education would have to make major cuts
§ The constant
increase of fuel prices is a major concern – school buses along with operation
of activity buses
§ Capital expense –
requested approximately $1.3 million with $300,000 from Technology-ADM with
County Manager’s recommendation being $873,940
§ Everything that
was requested is a real need
§ Board of Education
has contracted with an architectural firm to do a comprehensive needs study
which will tell the complete story
§ One concern: Direction
the Board of Commissioners will be taking with the lottery funding, used for
school construction or debt service
County Manager Bryan Steen noted the use of
lottery funds could be used for purchase
of land and for planning before going out for financing, according to
the law.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that the Board would need to wait for advice from the
financial advisor. Commissioner
Carroll noted, in my opinion, it should be used for new
construction only.
Chairman Inman noted
that the House has passed (Senate hopefully will pass)
additional funding from the lottery reserve so that all counties will
receive additional ADM
allotment, this should help Stokes County.
Dr. Hobbs continued
his presentation with the following:
§ If no additional
funding, cuts would have to be made from locally funded positions (estimated 8)
or from technology funding
§ Would have to
carefully decide where positions could be cut
§ Stokes County has
24 local teaching positions with a total of 82.24 positions, which includes
maintenance, clerical, etc.
Finance Director Lanette Moore noted the
following:
§ Based on the
County Manager’s recommendation, the Board of Education would have to cut
approximately $781,000
§ Increases that the
Board has no control over = approximately $627,000
§ The shortfall does
not even touch the new requests which total $338,895
Vice Chairman Walker discussed previous budget
allocations given to the schools.
Dr. Hobbs discussed the State’s proposed cost
of living, rising cost of fuel, increased
utility costs, outdated boiler systems and HVAC units, and general
operating costs.
Finance Director Moore
noted the following increases/decreases in the proposed current
expense budget:
|
|
|
Increase/Decrease |
|
Salaries/Supplements/Benefits
|
$ 269,520.00 |
|
|
New
Requests |
|
$
338,895.00 |
|
Technology |
|
$
66,577.00 |
|
Travel |
|
$
(6,328.00) |
|
Supplies |
|
$
18,000.00 |
|
Contracted
Services |
|
$
(49,370.00) |
|
Staff
Development |
|
$
30,000.00 |
|
Printing |
|
$ 2,000.00 |
|
Dues |
|
$
1,770.00 |
|
Insurance |
|
$ 500.00 |
|
Communications |
|
$
(2,650.00) |
|
Postage |
|
$
(6,000.00) |
|
Utilities |
|
$
351,750.00 |
|
Operations |
|
$
50,000.00 |
|
Charter
Schools |
|
$
6,000.00 |
|
School
Special Requests |
|
$
24,048.00 |
|
Total |
|
$
1,094,712.00 |
The Board of Education
discussed the cost of fuel for bus transportation, athletic
programs, and possibly a four-day workweek. The Central Office will be operating on a 4
day
workweek this summer.
Finance Director Moore
noted the submitted budget was prepared using 4.5% cost of
living for classified employees and 7% for certified employees.
Dr. Hobbs noted that
it could possibly be around 5% with one time bonuses which
could result in some savings.
Dr. Hobbs discussed
the NC Wise Program.
Vice Chairperson
Yvonne Rutledge explained one of the new request – implementation
of teacher assistant salaries based on years of experience. Implementation of this request
would be approximately $202,664, based on the County Manager’s
recommendation, this
would have to be eliminated from the proposed budget. Another request is to increase
supplement pay.
Commissioner Carroll
noted the need for implementation of the teacher assistant
salaries based on years of experience and that it should be a high
priority with funding being
taken from low wealth income.
Member Bill Hart
reiterated the increasing cost of fuel, expected cost of living increase,
teacher supplements, and the need for implementation of the teacher
assistant salaries based on
years of experience.
Member Becky Boles
noted the unexpected funding spent this year on Nancy Reynolds
Elementary School, new requests, and stated any additional funding
would be greatly
appreciated.
Commissioner Smith
noted other needs in the County, but understands the needs of
the school. Commissioner Smith
stated the need for implementation of the teacher assistant
salaries based on years of experience.
Chairman Inman noted
the following:
§ The proposed
budget is only a recommendation from the County Manager
§ This Board has a
passion for education
§ County is also
experiencing rising fuel cost with departments such as EMS and Sheriff’s
Department
§ Board is trying to
maintain a continuous increase of the county’s fund balance each year
§ Need for both
Boards to continue to collaboratively work together for the same thing – new
school construction and renovations
County Manager Steen noted the following:
§ Budget reflects no
tax increase
§ Increase in fuel
and utilities for the County
§ Appropriation of
almost all of Hold Harmless funding
§ 4% cut from travel
and department supplies from all departmental budgets
§ County budgeted no
new vehicles last fiscal year
§ Proposed budget
only includes a possible 2% increase to the salary scale
Commissioner Carroll discussed the following
specific issues:
§ Instructional
support salaries
§ Elimination of
department head supplements
§ NC Wise positions
§ Library book
funding – need for more
§ Contracted
Services – budgeted $250,000
§ Capital Outlay –
prior approval of $300,000 transfer from fund balance
Finance Director Moore noted the items
expensed from the previous $300,000 transfer:
§ Sandy Ridge
Elementary School – major heating issue – approximately $90,000
§ New bleachers –
most were mandates – approximately $85,000
§ West Stokes High
School – compressor issues – approximately $49,000
§ Approximately
$75,000 to be used for interior painting of schools
Finance Director Moore noted that speaking on
the financial side, being able to transfer
the $300,000 is a definite plus for the Board of Education by having
the flexibility to transfer
the funding if needed.
Dr. Hobbs questioned
what is the Board of Commissioners’ view on an appropriate
fund balance amount.
Commissioner Carroll
noted a reasonable amount of $250,000, but on the other side,
the funding was allocated for the operation of schools. If funding is not used one year, it could
possibly be used for the next year, especially when funding is tight.
Director Moore noted
that the Board of Education usually funded items from fund
balance that were not recurring items.
Vice Chairman Walker noted running the school
system is essentially the same as
operating a business with the fund balance as a contingency. Vice Chairman Walker noted
that the superintendent should try to balance what would work, there is
no magic number, look
at the balance as what is a reasonable amount in case of an emergency.
Dr. Hobbs noted that the
passenger van requested would be used so that staff who
are attending workshops can ride together, saving mileage
reimbursement.
Vice Chairman asked if
any of the capital improvements could be postponed
until funding is secured for construction of schools, major repairs,
etc.
Dr. Hobbs noted that
by the end of the month, the long-range comprehensive plan will
be completed which will detail schools needs and DPI standards. Most of the items in the
capital request is only maintaining facilities as is, safety issues,
repairs and maintenance, and
minor renovations.
Member Sonya Cox noted
that the Board of Education would not know the priority
list until after the architectural analysis is completed.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that ADM funding could be used for ongoing capital
projects or minor renovations.
Dr. Hobbs noted that
rural systems receive less funding from the State for
transportation needs due to the fact that the efficiency rate is not as
high as counties with
schools close together.
The Boards discussed
the teacher assistants’ compensation plan based on longevity
that is included in the proposed budget. Vice Chairman Walker noted that several spoke
at
the Public Hearing regarding this issue.
Director Moore noted that
teacher assistants now have to meet mandates required by the
State.
Dr. Hobbs noted the
job description for a teacher assistant has changed tremendously,
now they are instructional teacher assistants. They are actually teaching children and should
be awarded.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that most of the teacher assistants are state and federally
paid and the additional funding should come from state and federal
sources.
Dr. Hobbs reiterated
that if the Board of Education had to cut approximately $316,000
and fund the teacher assistants without additional funding; cuts would
have to occur from the
low wealth funding for technology and possible teacher positions. Dr. Hobbs stated that
without additional funding, the Board of Education would have to find
approximately $500,000
from other areas with some federal and state funding being restrictive.
Finance Director Moore
noted that the Board tries to maximize the most from
state and federal funding.
Vice Chairman Walker
noted the need to try to fund the teacher assistant compensation
plan.
Dr. Hobbs noted
possibly trying to implement the teacher assistant compensation
plan over the next two years.
Dr. Hobbs also noted
possibly beginning discussion regarding a funding
formula for the schools, a funding formula that both Boards can live
with and work with.
Chairman Inman noted
the need for both Boards to continue to work together toward a
common goal, what is best for the students in Stokes County.
Member Sonya Cox noted
that a committee has been formed to implement the
requirement that all school facilities must be a “tobacco free
facility” by August 1, 2008.
Information will be sent home by students, signage has been posted at
all facilities, and
announcements will be made at all school activities.
Dr. Hobbs requested if
any space was available in the school administrative facility,
school administration is in desperate need for more space if any
becomes available.
Chairman Inman
expressed the Board’s appreciation to the Board of Education
for the joint meeting.
Vice Chairperson
Rutledge expressed appreciation to the Board of Commissioners for
the opportunity to discuss the proposed budget.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman entertained
a motion to adjourn the joint meeting.
Commissioner Smith moved to adjourn the joint
meeting. Vice Chairman Walker
seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________ _____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman