HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_2_2005_Budget_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
THURSDAY JUNE 2 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session
on Thursday, June 2, 2005, at 5:30 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve D. Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Absent: Chairman Sara Haire Tice (due to illness)
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director
Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Others present: Carrie Sidener with the Record & Landmark.
CALL TO ORDER by Vice Chairman Williams.
20 County Wide Fire District: Fire Tax District Board (FTDB) Members
Frank Phillips and Jeff Tucker, along with several firemen, joined the commissioners
for this segment of the meeting.
Phillips said the original budget request was in excess of $6 million, but the
FTDB had reduced it to $3.8 million. He said there was a need for an additional one
cent on the tax rate which would generate $600,000. Phillips said several departments
needed renovations, some needed to be rebuilt totally, and paid firemen were needed.
He said one new truck had been ordered this year, and it was for West Iredell. Phillips
said group purchasing was being reviewed. He noted that it cost $1,200 to fully -equip
one fireman.
Tucker said that in the past three years, paid firemen had been the trend, and he
didn't see the VFDs regressing back to strictly volunteer organizations.
Phillips said the First Responder costs ($78,000) were in the budget, but the
FTDB felt they should be included in the EMS budget. He said bandages, or
expendable supplies were coming off the EMS trucks, but not defibrillators, oxygen
tanks, and back boards. Phillips said there were several reasons why the First
Responders might not get replacements and one of these was that they might be too
busy cleaning up after an accident scene.
Commissioner Williams asked if the Mooresville Rescue Squad responded to
calls.
Phillips said everyone needed to remember the rescue squad was a volunteer
organization. He said during the day, the response times were acceptable, but after 5
p.m., the squad members could be slow in arriving, or they might not show up.
Williams asked Phillips and Tucker to explain how the FTDB made the
budgetary cuts.
Phillips said the original request for trucks was 1.8 million, but it was reduced to
$195,000.
Tucker said salaries were equalized between the departments.
Commissioner Johnson asked about the insurance increase.
Finance Director Blumenstein said the insurance line item had increased was
due to the consolidation of several types (property, liability, workers comp, bonds, etc.).
Commissioner Norman asked how closely the FTDB was following the
consultant's study.
Phillips said the FTDB did not see the study as anything "laid in stone." He said
that when a truck was replaced, there had to be a good reason, and the FTDB had a
maximum amount it would pay out for vehicles. Phillips said that if a VFD wanted a
$400,000 truck, the FTDB would only assist up to $300,000. He said the fire
department then had to have fundraisers for the remainder.
Commissioner Williams said the FTDB or the board of commissioners did not
have that much control over the fire departments.
Phillips said the VFDs were independent contractors. He said the FTDB
inspected the departments and looked at the equipment and vehicles, but technically, the
VFDs were independent contractors.
Tucker said the FTDB wanted to obtain a consensus on pumper or vehicle specs
instead of allowing every department to write up their own.
Phillips said the county was experiencing growth, and the FTDB would have to
find a way to fund it.
Williams asked why the First Responder costs were at 100% when there had
been cuts in other line items.
Phillips said there actually were some cuts. He mentioned that if the First
Responder costs were moved to EMS, the Director of Emergency Services didn't
necessarily have to work with each individual fire department. Phillips said the FTDB
could be the contact.
Commissioner Robertson asked about the VFD insurance ratings and the
homeowners' property insurance costs. He asked if the FTDB had a proposal to
encourage the fire departments to achieve better insurance. Robertson said the citizens
would then be able to save money on their property owner's insurance, and they could
see a benefit from their tax dollars.
Ken Jurney showed a map that depicted the areas in the county with the better
insurance ratings.
Phillips said it took more than water hydrants to achieve good insurance ratings.
Tucker said the FTDB tried to pick the most densely populated areas for hydrant
placement.
Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey said the state insurance commissioner recently
conducted the Monticello VFD's inspection. He said the review rated the department
on communication (10%), water (40%) and the VFD itself (50%). Ramsey said the
inspector reviewed invoices and paperwork for the past three years. He said all training
had to be documented, and all equipment maintenance records had to be accessible.
Phillips said it took about a year just to get scheduled for a state inspection. He
said, "It behooves the insurance department for the VFD not to receive a good rating."
Tucker said many departments were using their paid firemen to help prepare for
the inspections.
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Johnson said debt impacted the operational budgets, and it needed to be
managed, or options were going to be limited.
Norman said it would seem difficult to manage the debt if the VFDs could
purchase trucks no matter how expensive they were.
Phillips said the VFDs were told how much the FTDB would assist in truck
purchases. He said it would be difficult for the departments to bury the extra costs.
Tucker said the departments had the autonomy to spend the money as they
chose. He said just because something was budgeted in one line item, it didn't
necessarily mean the firemen couldn't spend the money on something else.
Commissioner Williams thanked Phillips and Tucker for their FTDB work.
22 East Alexander VFD Budget: Blumenstein said $44,304 had been
requested.
(No changes from county manager's recommended budget.)
23 Mt. Mourne VFD Budget: Blumenstein said that in 2004-05, the tax rate
was reduced from 3.5 to 3 cents at the request of the Mt. Mourne fire officials. She said
the VFD had now requested for the 2005-06 rate to be returned to the former amount
(3.50).
Williams said the VFD wanted to put the extra money in its future projects
(reserve) account.
CONSENSUS of the board to allow the increase from 3¢ to 3.5¢.
24 Shepherds VFD Budget: Blumenstein said the Shepherds VFD had
requested a 5 to 6¢ tax increase; however, it was recommended for the rate to remain at
5¢. She said the difference between what the five and six cent rate would generate was
little less than $100,000.
CONSENSUS of the board to leave the tax rate at 5¢.
36 Parks Reserve Fund: CONSENSUS of the board to allow the finance
director to transfer $45,000 for a park master plan for the North Iredell Park Project
Fund and to amend the budget ordinance.
40 Capital Project Fund: CONSENSUS of the board to allow the finance
director to include in the 2005-06 budget (1) the renovations of the Inspections/Code
Enforcement Facility (2) the EMS Statesville Main Base and (3) the EMS Mooresville
base.
52 Solid Waste: Blumenstein said the Solid Waste Director was recommending
for the fee schedule to include a $6 charge for a one-half, or greater, pickup load of
demolition or commercial material and a $3 charge for a smaller loads. She said there
would also be a revision to the fees for tires. Blumenstein said passenger tires would
cost $3.00, and tractor tires would be $6.00.
Commissioner Norman asked about the new West Iredell Transfer Station.
Mashburn said the station would begin operations in 05-06.
(No changes from the county manager's recommended budget.)
700 Mitchell Community College: Mr. Norman reminded the board members
about the college's request for an additional $100,000 for operating expenses associated
with the new workforce development building.
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Additional Jail Space Needs: Commissioner Johnson mentioned that even
though the satellite jail would alleviate some of the overcrowding, the county would
have to provide additional space in the near future.
Update on Ad Valorem Tax Valuation: Blumenstein updated the board on the
newest valuation estimates. She said that after additional appropriations were made to
the schools, and Statesville airport deductions were made, along with adding unused but
proposed 05-06 funding (mapping software & leases for sheriff's department), the
county would have an additional $233,245.
CONSENSUS of the board to make the following appropriations:
$50,000 to Mitchell College
$50,000 to the county's contingency fund
$25,000 to the Greater Statesville Development Corporation for "seed funds
associated with assistance for existing industry." (Actual request was for
$50,000. The remaining $25,000 will be in the 06-07 budget.)
$108,245 to reduce the county's appropriated fund balance
(Note. Additional appropriations were made towards the end of the meeting.)
$233,245
Carolina Land & Lakes: Commissioner Williams said the Carolina Land and
Lakes agency was providing many valuable services with no Iredell County funding.
He recommended that the agency receive funding.
CONSENSUS of the board to fund Carolina Land & Lakes $2,000.
Reclassification Study: Human Resources Director Carolyn Harris said the
MAPS Group had visited the departments and performed desk audits to have a better
understanding of the job responsibilities of some positions. She said a survey was then
sent to comparable counties. Harris said a recommendation was given on the
complexity of the job along with the amount of supervision needed, and other
comparison factors. She said the majority of the recommended reclassifications were
based upon the MAPS study that cost $8,000.
Robertson asked why the sanitarians were not evaluated.
Harris said the state evaluated them.
Mashburn said they had been reviewed three times in the past five years.
The following positions were approved for reclassifications as of July 1.
Current
Number
Current
New Classification
New
Classification
Emps
Grade
Grade
415 Administration
Administrative Assistant 1
1
63
Executive Assistant
64
435 Tax Administration - Mapping
GIS Administrator
1
74
GIS Administrator
76
GIS Analyst
1
68
GIS Analyst
71
GIS Specialist
1
67
GIS Specialist
68
GIS Mapping Tech
1
65
GIS Mapping Tech
64
GIS Mapping Tech
1
65
Sr GIS Mapping Tech
66
Mapping Tech
1
62
Processing Assistant V
61
445 Information Systems Mgm
IT Administrator
1
75
IT Administrator
76
IT Consultant
1
72
Webmaster
72
IT Consultant
1
72
PC Specialist
71
536 ECOM
ECOM Director
1
72
ECOM Director
73
TC 1
14
61
TC 1
62
TC 11
4
63
TC II
65
4
542 EMS EMS Training Officer
1
69
EMS Training Officer
70
EMS Assist Shift Coordinator
3
67
EMS Assist Training Coord
68
EMT 1
1
60
EMT 1
61
EMT II
3
62
EMT II
63
4-1/2% in -range increase
to employees serving as FTO
9
546 Emergency Management Deputy EM Coordinator
1
65
Deputy EM Coordinator
70
Dir of Emergency Services/EM
1
80
Assistant County Manager
85
560 Planning & Code Enf
655 Recreation
750 Solid Waste
430 Finance
GIS Addressing Tech
GIS Addressing Tech
Recreation Director
Administrative Manager
Field Sanitation Supervisor
Transfer Station Supervisor
Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
65 GIS Addressing Tech 63
65 Sr Addressing Technician 66
74 Parks & Recreation Director 76
69 Administrative Officer II 70
69 Landfill Superintendent 70
63 Transfer Station Supervisor 65
84 Deputy County Manager 87
Salary Adjustments: Blumenstein said that in the 05-06 budget, a total of
$830,140 had been included for across-the-board increases, merit increases, and step
increases for the employees. She said all employees would be eligible for a 1.5%
across-the-board increase. In regards to the merits, she said they would be awarded at
either 1% or 2% based on performance (rating scale of standard or 0 = no merit; a 1
would be a 1% merit and 2 would equal a 2% merit). Blumenstein said she calculated
the total merit amount needed by estimating 80% of the employees would receive the
2% and the other 20% would receive 1 %.
Blumenstein said $66,825 was included in the budget to implement steps into
the payroll system. She said this would eliminate the staff from having to manually
keypunch a step increase for each employee when needed. She said currently, there was
a minimum, a mid -point, and a maximum pay range compared to the new system, that
would use steps with a one-half percent increase between each one.
Employees Health Insurance: Blumenstein said no enhancements were made
this year in the health benefits package except the NCACC had increased the lifetime
benefit maximum from $5 million to unlimited. Mrs. Blumenstein said the county
mostly made changes in the coverage last year when the individual deductible was
raised from $500 to $1,000. She said the family deductible was raised to $3,000.
(8:05 P.M. Commissioner Robertson left the meeting for another engagement.)
560 Planning & Enforcement: (No changes from manager's recommended budget.)
575 Cooperative Extension: (No changes from the manager's recommended budget.)
655 Parks & Recreation: (No changes from the manager's recommended budget.)
Vance House Museum: Commissioner Johnson requested that funding be
approved for the Vance House Museum.
CONSENSUS of the board to fund the Vance House $2,500.
ADJOURNMENT: At 8:15 p.m., Vice Chairman Williams adjourned the
budget meeting.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board