HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0292 (2)IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FY 0405 BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
MAY 27, 2004
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 27, 2004, beginning
at 8:30 a.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200
South Center Street, Statesville, NC for the purpose of reviewing the proposed FY 04-05 Iredell
County Budget.
Present were:
Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Marvin Norman
Sara Haire Tice
Staff present were: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean C. Moore.
Media in attendance were: Record & Landmark reporter Michelle Harrison, Iredell
Citizen reporter Kim McKinney, Lake Norman Times reporter LuAnne Laubscher, and Iredell
Neighbors reporter Kathryn Wellin. In addition, Record & Landmark reporter Katie Beaver
attended the meeting during the discussion pertaining to funding for the Iredell-Statesville
Schools.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
OVERVIEW OF REVENUES & PROJECTIONS: Finance Director Blumenstein
noted that a few years ago, the board of commissioners requested a fund balance (general fund)
of 11%, and the proposed budget was close to the targeted amount at 10.20%. Mrs.
Blumenstein and the county manager then reviewed the budget schedules and briefly discussed
the proposed expenditures. Some of the comments were:
• In regards to the estimated sales tax for the current year, the final payment will not be
received until September 2004.
• The county's transportation system is shown as a special revenue fund, and this is due
to most of the funds originating from grants. It is a self-supporting department,
similar to the solid waste enterprise system.
• The following new positions were recommended.
One mechanic for Vehicle Services. When the county assumed the
transportation service, this added several vehicles to the county's fleet. (Fleet is up
to 270 vehicles with three mechanics to service, repair, and inspect them.)
One road deputy and one civil deputy (IV -D processing) for sheriff's dept.
Four new Jailer IIIs were added and will be based at the Hwy. 21 annex.
One telecommunicator position
One new inspector plus increasing hours for GIS Technician (will bring up to full-
time) in planning/code enforcement
One public health specialist, one dental assistant, and two environmental health
specialist positions in the health department
Five and a half positions for social services
Three positions for the library
One athletic program assistant for recreation
One van driver for the transportation system (ICATS loop)
Two transfer station attendants for the anticipated west Iredell site
Chairman Johnson shared a concern about rising gas prices and the impact on the sales
taxes. He said taxpayers were paying more for more gas, and this left them with less to purchase
items that generated sales taxes for the county. Johnson said he recently heard that a one -cent
increase in gas, nationwide, amounted to a billion dollars in the loss of disposable income.