HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0079IRF,DELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
APRIL 18 2000
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, April 18,
2000, 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200
South Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Tommy E. Bowles
Alice T. Fortner
Absent: Alice M. Stewart (out of state due to a family emergency)
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Health
Department Nursing Director Janet Blaufuss, Personnel Officer Carolyn Harris, DSS Director Don
Wall, Chief Deputy Rodney Proctor, and Purchasing Agent Evie Caldwell.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL. OF A RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE NORTH
CAROLINA GENERAL. ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW CITIZENS OF IREDELL. COUNTY TO
VOTE AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION UPON THE LEVY OF A $.01 SALES TAX
FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION: Commissioner Fortner said the school systems had a
comprehensive plan for school construction. She said the sales tax was a better method to pay for
classrooms than the property tax. Mrs. Fortner said the county's legislative members had not
expressed much optimism the tax would be approved, but she said the resolution being proposed was
only asking for permission to allow the voters to vote on the sales tax increase. She continued by
saying that if the state enacted a new statewide sales tax, the one -cent tax she was proposing would
be repealed.
Finance Director Blumenstein was asked to explain the percentages of the current sales taxes
appropriated to the schools. Blumenstein said a portion ofthe two half -cent taxes went to the school
systems. She said thirty percent (30%) of the 1983 half -cent tax went to the schools and thirty
percent (30%) ofthe 1986 half -cent tax was earmarked for school capital outlay. This makes sixty
percent (60%) of the two half -cent taxes going to the schools. (Note: The 1983 tax stipulated that
30% would be earmarked for the schools for a 15 -year period. The 15 years have passed; however,
Iredell County has continually given the full 30% to the schools. On the 1986 half -cent tax, the state
stipulated that 30% would be given to the schools for a 16 -year period. This stipulation will
terminate in year 2002.)
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED
FEE COLLECTION POLICY & SCHEDULE: Nursing Director Blaufuss said clients of the
health department had to be residents of the county unless they were seeking a mandated service.
She said proof of identification was requested from new patients. A new financial form has been
created which includes a section for insurance information.
REQUEST FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR PERMISSION TO APPLY
FOR A MATERNITY CARE COORDINATION GRANT: Blaufuss described a grant whereby
the health department could hire a social worker fcr four days per week. The employee would work
with pregnant/postpartum women who received emergency Medicaid when their chi Idren were bom.
She said that if a person was hired using the grant money, and the funds were discontinued in the
future, the position would be eliminated. Blaufuss said the maternal social workers knew they had
to be self-supporting.
Commissioner Johnson said a cost analysis on what money the county would receive in
Medicaid versus the money the county would have to spend would be helpful. Johnson said that in
the future, if the grant funds were discontinued, and the health department desired to continue the
.8 FTE position, that full justification should be presented with the request.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing at 6:30 p.m.
Approved: > > > /} -'--
�� Clerk to the Board