HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0730 (2)IREDELL 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: Came 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.