HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0329 (2)- We have reduced central office costs to the lowest ratio in the state.
- We have received an independent audit with zero reportable f ndings.
Over the past two years we have cut over $1,200,000 in current expense
items to bring our budget within the county's prior funding commitment of
growth plus 5%.
This year we built our modest budget on this prior commitment of growth
plus 5% and on the county's original projection of a 5% increase in property tax
and sales tax revenues. When we met with Commissioners in mid-February
during their budget planning retreat, the county's financial projections had not
changed. It was not until May that we were officially told that the projections for
increased property tax revenues had been revised downward to 2.5% and our
funding would be reduced to 2% plus growth.
The Board of Education is baffled by this pessimistic economic forecast,
described by the County Manager as "the lowest annual increase in the property
base" since 1988. Last year the county realized a 10% increase in property tax
collections. The County Manager explains that the dramatic drop in projections
for next year is based on a loss of personal property from equipment leaving the
county. That may be true, but does the projection take into account the dramatic
growth in the county? At our joint meeting in March, Mr. Johnson said this about
our growth: "We're beginning to see —as the population projections show —a
resurgence of growth again all over the county, but particularly in the southern
end. " With clear signs that the economy is rebounding and the growth in this
county is continuing, the Board of Education has to ask: How could we face the
worst property tax projections in over 16 years?
The Board of Education does not want to be in conflict with the County
Commissioners but we believe we have a duty to the students, staff and community
to pursue the resources needed for the schools. It is our hope that the Board of
Education and the Board of Commissioners will be able to resolve these issues in
the best interests of the children and citizens of Iredell County.
Openine Statement by Attorney Yarborough on behalf of the Iredell County Board
of Commissioners: Mr. Yarborough then read the following statement.
Leadership is about setting priorities and making hard decisions. The
Iredell County Board of Commissioners were faced with several hard decisions
this year when fulfilling their public trust of preparing and adopting a budget.
They were faced with their historic commitment to education, which they have
proven time and time again. And, they were faced with other public demands on
their limited resources. They set their priorities, honored their commitments and
made the hard financial decisions, which their jobs require.
In doing so, they held the tax rate steady and gave the Iredell-Statesville
Schools 98% of everything for which they asked. Furthermore, they were
budgeted this year $1,148, 000.00 more than they received last year. To do this,
the board of commissioners cut other departmental requests, belt tightened, and
sought creative ways to find additional revenue. And the Iredell Statesville School
Board still wants to cause this public furor, take them to court, and spend
additional money and effort because they did not receive a very small fraction of
all the money for which they asked.
By our calculations their current expense request was approximately
$24,521,000 and we budgeted $23,822,000 or 2.8% less than requested.