) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) JUNE 19, 2008
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a recessed budget work session (recessed from the June 18th
budget work session) in the
Commissioners’ Chambers of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Building
(Administrative
Building) located in Danbury, North Carolina on Thursday, June 19, 2008
at 9:00 am 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
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the recessed
budget work session to order.
Commissioner Carroll delivered the invocation.
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT – GOVERNING BODY – BUDGET WORK SESSION
Chairman Inman expressed his appreciation to
the Board for their dedication and
commitment to adopt a budget to provide the best services for the
citizens of Stokes County.
Chairman Inman opened
the floor for further discussion of the proposed fiscal year
2008-09 budget.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that with all things considered, the best the Board could do
this year was to adopt a “bad” budget as opposed to a “worse” budget,
looking at hold
harmless funding, fund balance, and having to borrow money for maintenance
items.
Commissioner Lankford
noted the following:
§
Parameters were set for the 2007-08 budget from
goals collectively developed by Board members
§
Goals included the following:
·
Commission must provide strong and united
leadership
·
Focus on and improve spending of county tax dollars
·
Keep property taxes low
·
Maintain a strong education system
·
Maintain a safe environment for citizens
·
Develop a plan to improve the County’s
infrastructure
·
Continue to promote Economic Development in a
positive way to have a positive image of the County
·
Expand technology needs
·
Identify and implement a county space needs plan
which has been done
·
Improve employee morale
§
2007-08 Budget increased the county’s fund balance
(from approximately 8% to 14%)
§
Milestones have been met during the last fiscal
year:
o
Pay plan and scale developed and implemented (fair
and equitable) for county employees
o
Southwestern Service Center opened
o
Negotiated Mental Health Coordinator position and
implemented with no county tax dollars
o
Negotiated for a PART park and ride lot for public
transportation for the citizens of the county which should be in placed later
this year
o
Meetings held with Board of Education to implement
an Education Construction Plan
o
County has received approximately $1.2 million in grants
since 2006
o
Made decisions to increase employment in the County
by approving Economic Development Incentive Grants
§
This has been done by sticking with the goals
adopted by the Board before the approval of the 2007-08 budget
Commissioner Lankford noted the need to keep
the direction the same and that the
upcoming fiscal year 2008-09 budget must maintain that same type of
image.
Vice Chairman Walker
noted the “Report to the People” developed by County Manager
Bryan Steen also highlights the accomplishments made during the past
year.
Chairman Inman noted
the “Report to the People” provides citizens with information
about what has happened and what is happening in the County.
Commissioner Smith
noted the following:
§
Agreed with Commissioner Lankford’s observations
§
The need to continue to do what is right, what is
fair, and what is the best for the County
§
Use available funding without a tax increase
§
Would like to increase school current expense by
$100,000
§
Add the 4.5 positions to DSS budget
§
Add the 1 Detective position to the Sheriff’s
budget as long as it is funded at no expense to the general fund
§
Start EMS on a 2 remount per year rotation starting
with 2 remounts in the upcoming fiscal year 2008-09 budget as soon as possible
after adoption of the budget
§
Add 1% increase to the pay scale and continue
longevity step increases for employees with a $250 bonus
§
Continue funding the two Fire Marshal positions
from the Service District, do not split the funding with Walnut Cove, Rural
Hall, King Fire Districts
§
No change in fire tax for any district
§
Make sure this budget provides an increase for the
fund balance in order to stay in a position to purchase land, build schools,
etc.
§
Separate borrowing funding for maintenance projects
and vehicles
Chairman Inman stated
that he had spoken to the Local Government Commission
(LGC) yesterday to make sure the County was moving in the right
direction and received the
following comments from LGC:
§
Borrowing approximately $1 million for maintenance
projects, EMS station, and vehicles would be a small amount and should not
alter any effect on future school construction projects especially since debt
is scheduled to come off this year
§
Maintain and continue to increase the fund balance
Vice Chairman Walker noted the following:
§
No issues with comments from Commissioner Lankford
or Commissioner Smith
§
Could possibly go along with the 4.5 positions for
DSS, currently looking at 2.5 positions
§
On board with the 1 Detective position for the
Sheriff’s Department
§
On board with Remount Rotation Program for EMS
starting with 2 remounts this year
§
Do something for the employees – not exactly sure
what that is
§
Consider keeping the same approach in the Service
District for funding the two Fire Marshal positions
§
Review financing options pertaining to the number
of years items are being financed
§
Continue to keep things intact to continue the
progress for school construction along with the construction of a Forsyth
Technical Community College campus
§
Good faith effort to fund Economic Development
§
Need to look into other options for recreation for
the entire county
§
Need to continue to make high speed internet
connection available to as many as possible in the County
§
Maintain and increase the County’s fund balance
§
No tax increase
§
Need to establish a Tourism Board or Authority
§
Request from YVEDDI to consider funding for the
Weatherization Program
Chairman Inman noted that YVEDDI had access to
other funding for the
Weatherization Program.
Chairman Inman also
noted that the Economic Development Commission had reviewed
and approved the proposed Economic Development budget submitted by
County Manager
Steen.
Commissioner Carroll
moved to approve the following multi-facet motion: (working
from the County Manager’s proposed budget)
$67,652 = State and Federal match for DSS salaries
$36,883 = Federal Fines and Forfeitures for Sheriff’s Department
$219,000 = Proceeds from Financing
$55,498 = Additional Hold Harmless funding
b. Expenditure deletions:
$50,000 = From Capital Reserve for EMS station
$1,700 = From Sheriff’s Department for radios
$6,500 = From Parks for mower
$6,084 = From Health Department
$53,085 = From non-capitalized equipment funded from General Fund in
various departments
$18,200 = From Superior Court telephone system
$40,000 = From Capital Reserve for Library
c. Expenditure additions:
$219,000 = For EMS station
$36,883 = For Sheriff’s Detective
$109,119 ($41,467 from General Fund) for 4.5 positions in DSS
effective 09-01-08
$80,000 = For Fire Marshal
$109,600 = For Schools’ Current Expense
d. Budget Note – Authorize transfer of up to $250,000 from Schools’ Current
Expense Fund Balance to Capital Outlay at the discretion of the Board of
Education
6. Authorize transfer of $109,685 from the 2007-08 Contingency Fund to Capital
Reserve to fund the following:
a. $53,085 for non-capitalized equipment
b. $18,200 for Superior Court telephone system
c. $40,000 for Library
7. Allocate $200,000 appropriated for Personnel Contingency in 2008-09 budget as
follows:
a. Effective July 25, 2008, increase the county pay schedule by 1%
b. Effective with December 2008 payroll, pay one-time bonus of
$375 to permanent full time employees employed as of January 1, 2008
$250 to permanent full time employees employed as of July 1, 2008
$150 to permanent full time employees employed as of November 1, 2008
(the above amounts to be pro-rated based on % of employment for
permanent employees working less than 100%)
$150 to temporary employees who work a fix schedule
Vice Chairman Walker seconded the motion.
The Board discussed the motion presented by Commissioner Carroll.
Commissioner Lankford noted the following:
§ Disagreed with the change in Service District Fire Tax
§ All fire departments serving Stokes County should share in the cost of the two Fire Marshal positions – could possibly look at some other type of formula in sharing the cost among all the fire departments
§ Agree with maintaining the 60 cents county property tax
§ Schools- maintain current expense funding with an additional $88,000
§ EMS – 2 remounts or one new unit/one remount and develop a remount rotation plan for the all units
§ Agree to financing an additional $219,000
§ Keep $50,000 in Capital Reserve for new EMS station
§ DSS – 2 positions - Can go with 1 Adult Medicaid Income Maintenance Caseworker and 1 Child Medicaid Income Maintenance Caseworker
§ Sheriff’s Department – 1 Detective position – 1 year grant to be paid from drug funds
§ Not in favor of any fee increases recommended by the County Manager in the proposed fiscal year 2008-09 budget
§ Salary Plan – Give employees two step increase along with a $250 bonus
Commissioner Lankford noted the need for Administration to calculate the numbers
regarding the changes he suggested.
The Board discussed the two options for employees’ salary increases submitted by
Commissioner Lankford and Commissioner Carroll along with the County Manager’s
recommendation, the two Fire Marshal positions being funded by the Service District, and
funding allocation for EMS vehicles.
Commissioner Smith noted the following:
§ Agrees with Commissioner Carroll’s recommendation of 1% to the salary scale along with the bonus
§ Does not think it would be a good idea to veer from the initial salary plan just implemented in December 2007
Chairman Inman recessed the meeting for a 15-minute break.
The Board returned to the budget work session.
The Board continued to discuss the following:
o Service District Fire Tax cut proposed by Commissioner Carroll
o Operation of Truck #310
o Funding appropriation for the two Fire Marshal positions
o Appropriation of Hold Harmless funding
o Revenue projections
o Need for a job classification market study
o DSS positions
o Schools’ current expense allocation
o Personnel Contingency
Chairman Inman called the vote.
The motion failed (2-3) with Chairman Inman, Vice Chairman Walker, and
Commissioner Lankford voting against the motion.
Commissioner Lankford moved to approve the following motion:
§ Amend Commissioner Carroll’s motion with the following:
o Allocate funding for a 2 step salary increase for full time employees with a $250 bonus
o Allocate additional $100,000 for Schools’ Current Expense
o Maintain Commissioner Carroll’s recommendation for one Detective position for the Sheriff’s Department for a one year grant being paid by drug money
o Allocate funding for three positions (2 Income Maintenance Caseworkers and 1 Office Support to be decided by DSS)
o Maintain Commissioner Carroll’s recommendation to allocate funding for the two Fire Marshal positions from the General Fund instead of being funded from Service District
o Any excessive funding to be placed in fund balance
o Administration to calculate the numbers
Vice Chairman Walker seconded the motion.
The Board discussed
the following:
o
Personnel Contingency – Two step salary increase
o
Schools’ current expense allocation
o
Funding for the two Fire Marshal positions from
General Fund
Chairman Inman called the vote.
The motion failed
(1-4) with Chairman Inman, Vice Chairman Walker, Commissioner
Smith and Commissioner Carroll voting against the motion.
Commissioner Lankford
noted that he felt that his motion did not get due respect
due to the calculations not being provided before the vote was taken.
Commissioner Smith moved to approve the following motion:
§ Amend Commissioner Carroll’s motion with the following:
o Change the Service District Fire Tax back to 6.50 cents with any excess revenues placed in the Service District Fund Balance
Chairman Inman seconded the motion.
The Board discussed the following:
§ DSS Positions (3 versus 4.5 positions )
§ Service District Fire Tax cut proposed by Commissioner Carroll
§ Allocating the county’s share for the additional 1. 5 DSS positions in a Contingency Fund
Chairman Inman called for a five-minute recess.
The Board returned to the budget work session.
Chairman Inman called the vote.
The motion failed (2-3) with Chairman Inman,
Vice Chairman Walker, and
Commissioner Lankford voting against the motion.
Vice Chairman Walker moved to approve the following motion:
§ Amend Commissioner Carroll’s motion with the following:
o Change the Service District Fire Tax back to 6.50 cents
o Allocate three DSS positions to be effective 09-01-08
o Allocate county funding for the county’s share ($9562) in a Contingency Fund for the additional 1.5 positions for DSS to be evaluated in December for possible implementation in January 2009
with no obligation to fund the positions
Commissioner Smith seconded the motion.
The Board discussed the following:
§
Clarification of the Solid Wastes proposed fees
included in the proposed budget
§ Service District Fire Tax cut proposed by Commissioner Carroll
§
Adding to Fund Balance
§
DSS 1.5 positions to be evaluated in December 2008
with county funding to be placed in a Contingency Fund
Chairman Inman called the vote.
The motion was unanimous.
Chairman Inman
expressed his sincere appreciation to Board members for their hard
work and dedication during these Fiscal Year 2008-09 Budget Work
Sessions.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman
entertained a motion to adjourn the recessed meeting until Monday, June
23, 2008 at 4:30 pm.
Commissioner Lankford moved to adjourn the
recessed meeting until Monday,
June 23, 2008 at 4:30 pm. Commissioner Smith seconded and the motion
carried
unanimously.
________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman