The Alleghany
County Board of Commissioners reconvened the recessed budget meeting from Friday, June 4, 2004, to Friday, June 11, 2004, at 9:00am in the
Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South
Main Street, Sparta, NC.
Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren
Taylor, Commissioner Graylen Blevins, Commissioner Sandy Carter, Commissioner
Patrick Woodie, County Manager Don Adams and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans.
Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting
to order at 9:00am.
County Manager Don Adams handed out
papers about the Board of Education’s request with the correct funding numbers
and the amount of tax increase required to fund their requests. He stated that he was originally working
with the Schools estimated numbers instead of the actual budget request.
County Manager Don Adams explained the
reasons that the Extension Service salary line item is less than the requested
amount; positions vacant, grant expenses, moving the alternative agriculture
position to another county.
County Manager Don Adams informed the
Board that the Library is asking for money from each participating county in
the library system for rental space for the administrative offices. He stated that he is asking the Board to pass
the budget with a stipulation that the money will not be spent for rental
expenses due to policy issues and the library receives funding from the State
for administrative purposes.
The Board stated that they don’t have
any problem with this issue.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
stated that she wants Alleghany County to carry our
share in the regional library system.
County Manager Don Adams discussed the
Board of Elections employees being a full-time director and a 75% position with
benefits. He explained that the
Elections’ situation has changed since the 75% position was adopted and feels
like two part-time people will work better in her situation now instead of a
75% position. He explained that this
isn’t any more money. He further
explained that the Board of Elections wants to make sure that the 75% position
isn’t deleted in case it is needed in the future. He stated that the 75% position’s salary
would be moved to the part-time salary line item for the two part-time positions.
The Board agreed to this request.
County Manger Don Adams handed out
budget worksheets for making changes to this year’s proposed budget. He explained the projected fund balance
number is 2.9 million with $250,000 for the school bus garage and $250,000 for
the tax package already committed.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie asked about the status of the school bus garage.
Chair Eldon Edwards told the Board
about the plans have been completed and sent to Raleigh for
approval.
County Manager Don Adams explained the
budget worksheets with the changes listed out; Roaring Gap Deputies
Reimbursement, DSS Administrative revenues, DSS child development revenues and
Jail—food & provisions. He explained
that at the June 21 regular meeting, there would be a budget amendment coming for
the jail’s current budget concerning their budget shortfall of approximately
$80,000 and the same amount is budgeted for this upcoming year with the risks
being the same.
The Board discussed how to proceed
through the budget. They decided to
discuss any areas of concern and discuss the request that came before the
Board.
The Board of Commissioners and County
Manager Don Adams discussed the pros and cons for
adding the additional position in Soil & Water office and the Building
Inspections part-time position going to full-time.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
stated that she would like to see the position in the Building Inspections
department go to Full-time and have a part-time position added to the Soil
& Water office.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie stated that he agrees with Commissioner Herndon about
changing these positions.
The Board agreed to change the
part-time position to full-time for the Building Inspections office and add a part-time
position for the Soil & Water office.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie stated that it is his understanding that we can get more
CDBG monies if we get our projects done in a more timely manner and the County
should be looking into this option.
County Manager Don Adams stated that
the County spends a lot of time on this project and will continue to look into
the County doing more of the CDBG projects.
The Board and County Manager discussed the
proposed fee schedule for the building inspections department and the duties
and pay for the Soil & Water office’s part-time position.
The Board of Commissioners and County
Manager Don Adams discussed supplements for Wilkes Community
College employees and faculty and the Board of
Education employees.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie updated the Board about conversations with Dr. Gordon Burns
concerning the supplements, Wilkes County and Ashe County already
committed to providing funding for the supplements and the issue of parity
between the WCC employees and Board of Education’s employees.
The Board continued to discuss the
issue of the supplement for the WCC employees and Board of Education’s
employees.
The Board agreed to provide the $2,240
for the WCC supplement.
Chair Eldon Edwards called for a brief
recess at 10:30am.
County Manager Don Adams reviewed the
costs for the Soil & Water part-time position being a technical position
versus an administrative position.
County Manager Don Adams reminded the
Board about the debt service in the proposed budget for the
Administrative/Courthouse buildings and the proposed tax rates.
County Manager Don Adams further
reminded the Board that the Local Government Commission recommends our fund
balance be between 20% to 30% with 8% mandated.
The Board started discussions about the
current expense for the Board of Education and waiting on the facility needs
until we see some definite plans before discussing that topic.
Commissioner Warren Taylor discussed
the school’s current expense, things that could be cut from their budget
request and the amount of the shortfall.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie discussed the Blue Ridge BDC contract for the schools.
County Manager Don Adams explained the
process of switching their technology services to the Blue Ridge BDC.
The Board and County Manager Don Adams discussed the
current expense for the Board of Education.
County Manager Don Adams talked about
the debt service expenses for the Administrative/Courthouse building increasing
in two years and the proposed tax rate.
The Board and the County Manager discussed the
issues of renovating the Courthouse, building a new facility and the debt
service associated with the renovating of the Administrative/Courthouse
buildings.
Commissioner Warren Taylor continued to
discuss the school’s current expense and looking at giving them an additional
$30,000 but don’t know where the revenues will be coming from.
The Board and the County Manager discussed the
proposed tax rate increase and the amount of the increase.
The Board and the County Manager discussed the
economic development fund’s revenues and expenses.
The Board continued to discuss the
proposed tax rate increase and the amount of the increase.
The Board discussed giving the Board of
Education the $63,119 and an additional $30,000 for their current
expenses.
The Board discussed keeping sales tax
revenue in the County rather than going to another county, how the County
assists on the retail side of helping businesses, a county business license
helping to generate more revenues and solid waste home-based business
fees. They continued to discuss ways to
generate more revenues and be fair for everyone.
The Board and the County Manager discussed the
capital portion of the Board of Education’s budget request.
The Board continued to discuss the
proposed tax rate increase.
Commissioner Patrick Woodie
and Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
stated that they agree with a 5¢-tax increase for the upcoming budget year.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that
he agrees about not raising taxes two years in a row and to go ahead and fix
the problem now.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins stated
that he doesn’t want to raise taxes but it appears that there isn’t a choice.
The Commissioners agreed to raise taxes
5 cent for this budget year.
The Board of Commissioners and the County Manager discussed the
fee schedules for the following departments; Building Inspections, Emergency
Medical Services and Solid Waste. They
further reviewed the revenues for the solid waste fees, out-of-county garbage
being taken to the Transfer Facility and different methods for funding the
Transfer Facility. The Board agreed to
the proposed fee schedules.
Chair Eldon Edwards, Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated their appreciation for everyone
working on this budget.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated his appreciation
to County Manager Don Adams and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans for their
assistance on the budget.
Chair Eldon Edwards adjourned the
meeting at 12:40pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon
Edwards
Chairman