HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_2_2011_budget_session_minutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
JUNE 2, 2011
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget review session on
Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 5:30 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center, (South Wing Conference
Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman Steve Johnson
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman (arrived at 5:45 p.m.)
Renee Griffith
Frank Mitchell
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Assistant County Manager Ron Smith, Deputy County
Manager Tracy Jackson, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Call to Order by Chairman Johnson
Sheriff & Jail Budgets: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle said the ten M-4 rifles had been deleted from the
FY 12 request. He said the department currently had 57 high-powered rifles.
Crime lab: Chairman Johnson said that at the outset of the crime lab's creation, the board was told
money would be taken out of seized funds for start up costs. He said the board was told that revenue would
begin to surface as work from adjoining counties came to the lab. Johnson said the lab's expense side had been
seen, but there was not much revenue. He asked for justification to continue the lab.
Dowdle said the lab was an asset to the office, the county, and adjoining counties. He said it took
almost a year for the state to return reports, and the local lab could produce the information within a month.
Dowdle said two technicians were included in the budget; however, they had been employed with the sheriffs
office before the lab was created. He said the chemist's salary and the majority of the equipment were paid out
of seized funds. Dowdle said he was convinced that in the future the "restitutions" would support the lab. He
said the charge per case was $600.00, and during the month of May, $15,600 should have been received if all of
the fees had been paid. Dowdle said, unfortunately, only $3,864 was collected due to problems with the judges
not awarding restitution for the crime lab fee. He said restitution was paid through an individual's probation.
Dowdle said eventually, the $15,600 should be given to the county, and averaging this out for a full year, the
office should receive $187,200. Dowdle said this amount didn't include the work for other counties.
Commissioner Robertson asked who paid for the evidence reports when someone was not arrested.
Dowdle said the office would have to "eat" the costs.
Robertson asked who paid the costs if the state produced the lab results.
Dowdle said the state wouldn't be paid unless there was restitution.
Robertson said it appeared that if no arrests were made, then the state wasn't paid.
County Manager Mashburn said the county had never budgeted for these costs.
Dowdle said adjoining counties wanted to bring their evidence to Iredell County's lab.
Robertson asked who paid the costs if no one was arrested.
Dowdle said the only way the office was recouping money was through restitution. He said it was
difficult to predict how much revenue could be generated, because it was unknown how many people would
have to pay the restitution.
Robertson said the lab fee needed to cover the crimes that would be paid as well as those where there
would be no payment. He said, otherwise, Iredell County would be subsidizing the lab fees for other counties.
Commissioner Griffith said if Iredell County's turnaround time was 11 months quicker, then that could
be the justification to charge more for the service.
Dowdle said in time, the lab would start having some revenues. He said it was felt the other counties
would send their evidence here, even with a higher fee.
Chairman Johnson asked how many counties had expressed an interest in sending their lab evidence to
the county.
Dowdle said 15
Johnson asked Finance Director Blumenstein the expenditure gap when the two lab techs were
eliminated from the costs.
Blumenstein said there was enough seized money to pay the direct costs. She the director's
salary/benefits, reference books, equipment, and vehicle totaled $143,000, and there was $108,056 in seized
funds budgeted, plus there were estimated revenues of $35,000. Blumenstein said seized funds would not cover
the costs for the two technicians.
Griffith asked if replacements were hired when the two technicians began work in the lab.
Dowdle said they were just assigned to the lab.
Johnson asked the volume of work predicted from the 15 other counties.
Dowdle said the work was increasing.
Robertson voiced concerns about the state losing money due to its lab fee structure. He said that if
county wasn't more efficient, it would lose money too.
Chairman Johnson said the county's policy should be that other agencies paid the $600 regardless of the
outcome.
Dowdle said he wasn't sure that could be done.
Johnson said this could be an incentive for the counties desiring to expedite the prosecution of suspects.
He said these cases could be sent to the county, and the others could be sent to the state. Chairman Johnson
requested that Dowdle check with the other counties to determine the volume of business for next year.
Dowdle asked for a timeframe.
Johnson said that in 90 days, Dowdle should return with an estimate on the annual volume that might be
generated. Chairman Johnson said he would be willing to allow the lab to continue if the estimate was provided
at $600 for each case.
Griffith said the other counties should pay the costs regardless of the outcome. She said that if
restitution occurred, it could be refunded.
Dowdle said he could try. He said the other counties had the same financial straits.
Johnson said the estimate would be the lab's business plan, and Dowdle could present a progress report
at the Winter Planning Session.
DARE Proms: Johnson asked about the DARE line item being reduced from $46,201 to $35,000. He
asked if this meant that youth might get on drugs.
Dowdle said more prevention efforts were occurring with the "GREAT" program rather than DARE.
Johnson again asked if $35,000 was enough.
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Dowdle said the DARE Program could be cut to $35,000.
Canine Program: Johnson asked about the increase from $7,000 to $10,000.
Dowdle said this covered food and vet bills. He said this could probably be cut, and he agreed to reduce
the request to $8,000.
Crime Prevention: Johnson said this increased from $27,500 to $50,000.
Dowdle said this was the "buy" money. He said less money had previously been budgeted, and an
increase was needed to compensate.
Johnson asked if the amount could be cut to $40,000. He said that if the office needed more money for
this type of work, a request to the board could be made. Johnson said any additional funding could be taken out
of fund balance.
cost.
Dowdle agreed to the $40,000.
Vehicles: Johnson asked the type of cars being purchased for the jail.
Dowdle said they were transport cars, and Crown Vies were currently being used.
Johnson asked if a lesser car could be found that was just as secure.
Dowdle said the Impalas did not have enough back space room, and Chargers would be about the same
Johnson asked the car types being purchased for the detectives.
Dowdle said Impalas.
Vice Chairman Norman asked if any money had been set aside to destroy illegal drug labs.
Dowdle said no, and he was unaware of any North Carolina counties with funds set aside for this. He
said the NC Sheriffs Association had sent information stating that if a county had an illegal drug lab that SBI
assistance would be available.
Commissioner Mitchell asked about the Hwy. 21 satellite jail.
Dowdle said the sewer system would soon have to be pumped twice a month.
Rapid Eye Camera Request: Dowdle said the cameras would cover the blind spots in the jail.
Grant Money for Officers: Commissioner Robertson mentioned that each time an officer had been
added to the force with grant funds, there had been a stipulation that the position would be eliminated when the
funding ended.
Dowdle said grant funds were shrinking, and they would not be as accessible in the future.
(No action or directive occurred regarding the officer positions funded by grants.)
Animal Control: Animal Services Director Chris Royal and Deputy County Manager Tracy Jackson
attended the meeting to discuss the animal control budget.
Royal said the new building's ribbon cutting would be June 26. She said the department would probably
have to close down a couple of days to move into the new facility.
Communications: No changes occurred. Jackson said a new facility would be needed within three to
five years.
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EMS: David Cloer, EMS Director, said the call volume hit 1,554 last month, the highest ever. He said
one reason the calls had increased was due to EMS or 911 being the main means of medical care for many
people. Cloer said the fee collection rate for Medicare/Medicaid and third party insurance was about 92% but it
was only 8% for private pay. He said new mattresses would be purchased, and they hadn't been replaced in
eight years.
Commissioner Robertson requested the department to update the board on EMS needs in the future.
Fire Marshal: Joining the board was Fire Marshal Ronny Thompson. He said the telephone line item
had increased due to the staff receiving upgraded cell phones. Thompson said office landlines would be
eliminated along with voice mail No changes occurred.
Emergency Management: No changes occurred.
Public Safety Agencies (Rescue Squads): Finance Director Blumenstein said the following amounts
were recommended for the four rescue squads:
Future Capital Reserve
FY 2011-12 Bud et
Iredell Rescue
$229,905
North Iredell
106,460
Mooresville
141,245
Troutman
68,600
Future Capital Reserve
Iredell Rescue
$111,697
North Iredell
21,213
Mooresville
74,199
Troutman
40,967
Action: Chairman Johnson suggested that current expense be reduced by five percent, for all four
agencies, and to replenish this amount out of each squad's capital reserve funds. Johnson said he was
concerned about the economy over the next 12 to 24 months, and the county needed resources "down the road."
No objections were voiced by the other members.
Finance Director Blumenstein said that previously the Mooresville Rescue Squad had mentioned a
possible request to use $50,000 in capital reserve for debt service. She said the squad was advised to make an
official request to the board.
Commissioner Robertson mentioned that Mooresville's service area was recently reduced.
Countywide Fire Tax District: Fire Tax Board Member Frank Phillips said a 6.5¢ tax request had been
submitted, and this consisted of 5¢ for the fire tax and 1.5¢ for the insurance ratings fund. He said the 6.5¢ kept
the district's tax rate revenue neutral. Phillips said the VFD funding next year would be a little different, in that
departments would be funded for truck purchases. He said the departments would be allowed to accrue funds
for the trucks, and this method would take the fire tax board out of the process.
Johnson asked how the truck fund method would operate.
Phillips said the money would go to the VFD, and the fire tax board would not have a separate fund. He
said the individual fire chiefs had worked out a plan, and it was submitted at the retreat. Phillips said the budget
was an adaptation of that plan, except a lesser dollar figure had been made. He said all of the departments were
funded at the same level -- just at a reduced rate.
Chairman Johnson said some firemen felt that a commitment at a certain funding level had occurred if
they achieved the insurance rating objectives. Johnson asked if a commitment had been made for a specific
level of funding in return for the VFDs achieving and maintaining their insurance ratings. He asked if there was
a difference between that rate and the 6.5¢ tax rate.
Phillips read off the funding schedule for the VFDs in the countywide district.
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Robertson said that when the original motion was made for the one cent, it was supposed to go for
specific projects, and many were for water in order for the VFDs to improve their ratings. He said later, some
individuals mentioned they thought the money could be kept every year. Robertson said the one penny was
supposed to be there to provide a "pot of money to help the three departments that had a good plan to lower the
rating. Then next year, another three or four departments would get the money if they had a good plan to do the
one time expenses." He said the money was never meant to be a reward system; rather it was upfront to buy
what was needed to improve the ratings.
Phillips said there could be misunderstandings, but as far as the fire tax board was concerned, the FY 12
budget was fair and equitable. He said it was based on the fire chiefs thoughts during the past few months.
Commissioner Mitchell said the Central VFD would be inspected in June, and all of the other
departments had lower insurance ratings.
Chairman Johnson said he wanted to make sure the county was living up to its commitment.
Closed Session for Economic Development: MOTION by Chairman Johnson at 7:05 PM to enter into
closed session to discuss an economic development project.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays -0.
(A 15 -minute break occurred after the closed session, and Chairman Johnson called the meeting back to
order at 7:40 PM.)
Continuation of a Discussion Regarding the Countywide Fire Tax District: Chairman Johnson said
it appeared that when the firemen's association made their presentation that their appointees (Tim Warren and
Jay Stewart) understood that a level of funding had been determined, and if the VFDs met the insurance rating,
as well as the other requirements, there would be a level of funding. Johnson said at some point between that
time and when the fire tax board came up with the level of funding with the 6.5¢ tax rate that a
misunderstanding occurred. He said for instance, Lake Norman would be funded at $808,800 while the fire tax
proposal was at 782,000. Johnson said he couldn't recollect ever promising Lake Norman $808,800.
Phillips said the budget had a 6.5¢ tax rate, and Lake Norman had $549,000 last year compared to the
recommended $782,000 for this year.
Johnson said the firemen's association understood that the Harmony VFD would receive $526,000.
Phillips said last year Harmony received $440,965 compared to this year's $515,000. He said some
departments may have received fire trucks last year.
Chairman Johnson asked if any of the fire departments had an anomaly this year.
Phillips said Cool Springs had $350,000 proposed for FY 12 compared to $235,000 for FY 10-11.
Johnson said he didn't want to create any hard feelings with the VFDs as they had done a great job. He
said it was unclear what was agreed in terms of money when the plan was proposed by the firemen's
association.
Commissioner Robertson said that even if a monetary commitment had not been agreed upon, the
county could still give the VFDs more money.
Phillips said he had the same understanding as Commissioner Robertson, and this being that at no point
was the one cent a reward. He said the West Iredell VFD had received $60,000.00, and this wasn't a reward, it
was an enhancement to meet future Insurance Services Office rating requirements. Phillips said a "reward" had
never been used by the fire tax board in context with the one cent. He said that if some VFDs looked at the
money as a reward situation that it was probably a misnomer of words. Phillips said the money was supposed
to be used to assist a VFD in improving its fire insurance ratings. Continuing, he said the district had a fund
balance; however, some of it ($140,000 to $145,000) was being used for the FY 12 budget.
Commissioner Mitchell, a member of the fire tax district board, said the recommended budget for the
countywide district had been presented, but if any of the commissioners felt increases were needed, then another
tax hike would have to occur.
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Commissioners Robertson and Norman said they were in favor of the 6.5¢ countywide fire district tax
rate.
Troutman VFD: VFD Board Members Keith Troutman and Terry Bibleheimer said a tax increase was
not being requested for the Troutman VFD, and the current rate was 5¢.
Bibleheimer said the Troutman VFD special service district was created a couple of years ago, and the
funding request for FY 12 was $850,000. He said Station 2 on Perth Road was opened in August 2010, and
two vehicles had been purchased.
Chief Alan Church said the department was fortunate to have many volunteers.
Troutman said the current average age for the volunteers was 31 years old, and it was 37 last year. He
said development around Exit 42 would increase the district's tax revenue.
No one desired to speak about the other VFD budgets, and no changes occurred.
North Iredell Fire Training Grounds: Commissioner Mitchell said he had been approached by
representatives of the fire training grounds in the northern end. He said they asked about the possibility of the
county paying for the facility's insurance.
Chairman Johnson and Commissioner Robertson said they were not in favor of paying the insurance
costs. Commissioner Robertson added that the representatives were told not to buy the land for the training
grounds unless they had the money to develop it.
Special Appropriations
Forestry: Chair Johnson asked the reason for the increase from $53,790 to $70,570.
Mashburn said it was for a new truck.
Third Creek Watershed: Chair Johnson asked why there was an increase from $20,000 to $25,000.
Blumenstein said most of the funding was for the Soil and Water agency to provide maintenance of the
dams or flood control structures. She said about $4,000 was for the beaver eradication project.
Institute of Government: The board was told the Institute's dues were based on the county's population.
Iredell Museums: Commissioner Mitchell asked about the $7,500 deletion.
Mashburn said the county had not been funding the museum, but there had been a $7,500 request.
Centralina COG: Commissioner Griffith asked about the possibility of dissolving the agreement with
the council.
Mashburn said a one year's notice had to be submitted to dissolve the arrangement.
Robertson said the COG's Workforce Development Program had helped local companies, plus the
council helped the local senior center and assisted in the air quality battle.
Concerns & Suggestions by Commissioner Grifflth: Griffith said the proposed budget did not
address any additional spending that might develop from the state. She said the FY 12 budget basically funded
what was already in place, plus there were some increases. Griffith said the budget was growing even during an
economic downturn. She said there was public support to reduce the size of government, along with a need and
opportunity to make this occur. Griffith said the board members were placed in a difficult position because the
budget should reflect their philosophy. She said cuts should have been made by the county manager and
department heads, but instead, the board was being placed in this position. Griffith noted that local agencies
and banks had decreased their hours of operation, but yet, the county was not reviewing this type of cost
reduction. She requested the other board members to consider the following proposals as ways to address her
budget concerns:
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I . Modify the operating hours from 8 to 5 to 8 to 4 for Code Enforcement, County
Management, Finance, Health Department, IT, Register of Deeds, Mapping, Social Services,
Human Resources, Fire Marshal, Planning, Tax Administration, Tax Collector, Vehicle
Service, and Facility Services.
2. Move Parks & Recreation to the cities because this department was not state mandated.
(She said the same services were offered in Statesville and Mooresville.)
Vice Chairman Norman questioned why county residents would have to pay the cities to participate in
sports activities; especially after they (county residents) had built the ball fields and soccer fields in the county.
He asked Mrs. Griffith if she felt that county residents would want to drive to the municipalities to participate in
the recreational activities.
Griffith said discussions had already occurred with Statesville and Mooresville, and they were interested
in partnering with the county.
Norman said county citizens would have to pay more.
(Mrs. Griffith continued with her proposals as follows.)
3. Leave school funding at the current level and not increase it.
4. Library book purchases have increased by $53,000 from FY 10-11 to FY I1-12. The
funding should be maintained at this year's level.
5. There should be the elimination of three positions (countywide) which would save $179,000.
6. The sheriff's capital purchases should be funded in only the amount that the department is
willing to spend in seized funds.
7. Every salaried employee making over $100,000 should take a pay cut.
Mrs. Griffith said the board should look at ways to get the spending below the current tax rate. She then
proposed a second proposal as follows:
That Code Enforcement, Mapping, County Management, Register of Deeds, Finance, Health
Department, IT, Social Services, and Facility Services work from 8 to 5 Monday through
Thursday and from 8 — 12 Noon on Friday.
2. That Vehicle Services, Fire Marshal, Human Resources, Planning, Tax Administration, and
Tax Collection operate 8 — 5 Monday through Thursday and be closed on Friday.
3. That Parks and Recreation financially support itself or cut the budget to where the
expenditures were the same as the revenue being received.
Griffith had a third proposal as follows
Give the budget back to the department heads, and let them make an 8% cut. She said this
would allow for a budget that only spent the current tax rate. Mrs. Griffith said she was not
in favor of raising the tax rate by one penny.
Commissioner Mitchell said 47.10 was the revenue neutral rate. Mr. Mitchell said he was a board
member in 1992 when the tax rate was lowered from 59¢ to 45¢, and there was no praise for cutting the rate,
plus no one campaigned on a tax reduction. Mitchell asked the county manager if he could ever remember a
year when the property valuations had decreased like this year. He said some people would benefit but others
would not with a 47.1 ¢ rate.
Griffith said there were concerns about next year, especially if the state mandated for the counties to
purchase school buses. She said changes needed to occur due to the nation not being through the economic
downturn, and as a matter of fact, more state increases would be passed to the county next year. Griffith said
the county payroll was $154,000 a day, and this was a $1 for every man, woman, boy and girl who lived in
Iredell County. She said the county manager was proposing a nine percent increase in the property tax (44.5 to
0.50).
Mitchell said the base that everyone had to start out with was 47.1 ¢.
Griffith said the county was currently at 44.5¢, and if the county increased to 50¢ that was a nine percent
increase. She voiced concerns about increasing the tax rate, and its affect on the citizens.
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Mitchell agreed that times were tough, but he said the lines at DSS were increasing. He said Dr. Eason
had mentioned that Mitchell had the fourth largest community college enrollment in the state, and one reason
was due to the unemployed going back to school. Mitchell said the county was a safety net for the citizens, and
Griffith's proposal cut some of the departments down to four days a week.
Griffith again voiced concerns about next year, and that she felt the same amount of county business
could be conducted in a less amount of time.
Mitchell said the county was already frugal, and it already had a low tax rate.
Griffith said that just because the county had a low tax rate it didn't provide an opportunity for an
increase. She said the county had the 19`h lowest tax rate in the state.
Mitchell said the same people who elected Mrs. Griffith voted for the school bonds a few years ago, and
now there were maintenance and utility costs.
Griffith said the majority of the bonds were voted on by the board, not the public.
Mitchell said he didn't want to see the county go backwards.
Griffith said there had to be ways to reduce the size of government, especially since the state might pass
on more unfunded mandates next year. She said future county budgets had to be looked at differently. Griffith
said that much of the work stopped in the county at 4 PM instead of 5 PM. She said parks and recreation
services were being duplicated, and this was a department that wasn't mandated. Griffith said the board needed
to start looking at what it had to do rather than what it wanted to do.
Vice Chairman Norman said in reference to the recreation department, Mrs. Griffith was making
statements that couldn't be substantiated.
Griffith said services were being duplicated.
Norman said he lived in the county, not the city, and he had chosen his residence for a reason. He said
many kids couldn't afford the county recreation fees much less the ones required by the city.
Griffith said the county T -ball rate was $65 compared to the city rate, for county residents, at $10.
Norman said most people wanted to play in their own neighborhoods. He said Mrs. Griffith was voicing
her opinions, and she should ask the county citizens about their preferences.
Griffith said there were also duplications in mowing, and there should be partnerships with the
municipalities. She said there should not be any "holy grails" including the sheriffs department and parks and
recreation. Griffith said the proposed budget was not revenue neutral.
Mitchell said revaluation was a fairness issue. Mr. Mitchell said he didn't want his net worth, property
value wise, to be wiped out on paper due to a revaluation. He mentioned that during a 1991 or 92 revaluation
some people's property went up two, three and four times. Mitchell said the farm use tax had helped the
farmers.
Griffith said the proposed tax rate wasn't even close to being at revenue neutral. She said that also, no
discussions were occurring about spending decreases.
Commissioner Robertson said he understood Mrs. Griffith's concerns, but the county provided services.
He said this was unlike a business that could buy less raw materials and lay people off to cut labor costs.
Robertson said the demand for county services had only decreased in the inspections and zoning -related areas.
He said the taxpayers had to be informed that the county was different from private businesses. Robertson said
the number of students needing an education hadn't changed and neither had the amount of people calling 911
for medical assistance and law enforcement.
Griffith said that was why those three (schools, EMS, and law enforcement) had not been included in
her proposals.
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Robertson said that if the budget were cut eight percent, with the exception of the schools, then all of the
other departments had to cut 16%, because education was 50% of the budget. Continuing, he said there was an
opportunity cost for availability, and the county could eliminate this by guaranteeing long lines. He said the
employees could be 100% utilized, and that practice was already in place at the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV). Robertson said there was always a line at the DMV, but there was never idle staff. He said the county
had a good tax collection rate, and this enabled a low tax rate. He questioned why Mrs. Griffith would want to
decrease the working hours for collections. In addition, he mentioned that law enforcement and EMS had not
been included in the proposals. He said with these two departments deleted, then, the cuts would have to come
from a quarter of the budget. Robertson said last year, he had recommended a recreation fee increase, and this
could be revisited. He mentioned that he resided in the incorporated area of Mooresville, and paid for the
Town's recreation department. Robertson said it appeared that Mrs. Griffith wanted him to subsidize recreation
programs for others. He said there could be additional cooperation, and sharing, but it would not be as simple
as suggested. Robertson said he, too, had questions about the library budget. He said previously, the board had
decided to cut library costs by having it closed on Sundays. He said the health department and social services
might be considered as "big government," but the commissioners didn't authorize them. Robertson said the
commissioners couldn't de -authorize them either. He said cultural centers, festivals, and subsidized housing
were items that he considered as "big government." Robertson said Mrs. Griffith had voiced concerns about
state costs being passed to the counties, but this had already occurred this year with the employees' contribution
to the retirement fund along with workers compensation. He said everyone should consider that the county had
experienced two years of reductions, and the current tax rate was already low. Robertson said it was hard to
make an argument that Iredell County's budget was "bloated and obese."
Griffith said she wasn't inferring the budget was "bloated." She said cuts had occurred; however, the
new Register of Deeds had found ways to cut his budget by 25%. Griffith said before the 25% cut, everyone
had been told the Register of Deeds' Office was lean. She said partnerships with the municipalities would help
to cut costs. Griffith said the public safety departments were not included in her proposals because the citizens'
safety could not be at risk.
Robertson said that due to being elected officials, the Register of Deeds, Sheriff, and Clerk of Court had
been given more latitude in their budgets. He mentioned, too, that the business volume in the Register of
Deeds' Office was lower than it was two years ago.
Facility Services: Chairman Johnson said the City of Statesville had purchased a new bucket truck to
replace an older one. He said Statesville Councilman Jap Johnson was agreeable to allowing the county to use
the older bucket truck for one year, and then the county would be offered an opportunity to buy the vehicle.
OTION by Chairman Johnson to delete the bucket truck purchase by the facility services department.
He asked if all the board members were agreeable, and no one offered any objections.
Library: Commissioner Robertson asked about the increases for reference and children's materials,
adult fiction/non-fiction, and the North Carolina Reference Books. He said that if books had to be bought, his
preference would be to buy school textbooks. Robertson asked if the library director could be asked about the
"must haves."
Assistant County Manager Ron Smith said the library director was trying to build up the collection due
to past cuts for new books. He said the library director had mentioned that decreases could occur, if needed.
Griffith suggested that book purchases be funded at the current level.
Johnson said the library might need to cut down on the depth of the book inventory.
Reval: Commissioner Mitchell asked if the General Assembly did or did not pass legislation stating that
counties had to show a true tax rate after a revaluation. He asked if this would be shown on the tax bill.
Blumenstein said only a report to the board was required, and this had occurred.
Mitchell said the legislation was passed due to some counties, after revaluations, telling their citizens the
taxes hadn't increased; that only the value had gone up. He asked if 47.1¢ was what the state's formula had
calculated as the revenue neutral rate.
County Manager Mashburn said yes.
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Mitchell asked if Mashburn would agree that the biggest downfall in the assessment this year was not
due to citizens leaving the county but rather it was due to machinery leaving the factories and businesses. He
said the needs were still there for the people.
Mashburn agreed.
Mitchell said the people's needs were still there with less money.
Adjournment: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 P.M. (Next Meeting:
Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at 7 PM, in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville,
NC.)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approval:
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Clerk to the Board