HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1440 (2)Mitchell Community College Concerns Presented by Dr. Eason
1. One-third of the college's staff will soon retire. Please review the employment law
requiring a six-month waiting period before retirees may return to work (pt. time, etc.)
(Dr. Forrester said IRS laws affected pension plans, but he would look into the matter.)
2. Why doesn't the legislature fund summer school?
3. Why is there no funding for new programs until there is FTE, or a full year has lapsed
since implementation?
Iredell-Statesville Schools' Concerns Presented by Dr. Holliday
1. House Bill 51 (planning time for teachers) will cost the system $1 million. The
system was told there would be no financial impact.
2. Mitchell College and the school system have a good relationship; however, each has a
different school calendar.
3. The Accountability and Testing System in North Carolina is a "mess." There is a blank
bill regarding this. Please assist in writing a "sensible" bill.
4. Public School Facilities:
a. Statewide School Bond — Iredell County has the eighth fastest growing system in
the state. Please help to ensure that bond proceeds are not distributed using a low
wealth formula. Many low wealth counties have money in the bank because they
don't know what to do with it.
b. Local Option Sales Tax — This would annually provide an extra $7 to $8 million.
c. Extend the existing sales tax through 2021.
d. School Capital Leasing — This needs to be tax exempt.
e. Construction/DOT procedures — Please streamline
f. Sales Tax Exemption Refund — Please aid in this endeavor.
Concerns from the Mooresville Schools — Presented by David Dutton
1. Gratitude expressed for teacher salary increases. This will help with
recruitment/retention.
2. Reiterated the need to have ADM funding — not low wealth.
Concerns from Social Services Director Don Wall
1. If the legislature mandates a program, please provide the funds. (He cited several
examples as to how the state had impacted his department, e.g., having to assist in
obtaining fishing licenses, offering assistance with animal spay & neutering
programs, assisting clients with reproductive counseling.
2. Medicaid Relief — The county's Medicaid budget is $6.17 million and will increase
to $6.735 next year. Medicaid is 72% of the DSS budget.
3. Electing Counties Reduction in Cash Assistance — Iredell County chose to be an
electing county in 1999 and has remained in this status; however, there has been a
31 % reduction in cash reduction. This reduction has only impacted the few counties
choosing electing status. Where is the money going?
Health Department Concerns Presented by Health Director Donna Campbell
1. The legislature mandated that in July 2008, a well water program would have to be
implemented. In Iredell County this will require three new environmental health
specialists and one clerical position. Start up costs will be $108,000. Iredell County will
be allowed to set up its own program, but liability coverage will not be provided by the
Attorney General's Office.
2. Interpreter costs are exceeding $135,000 a year; plus more and more patients are falling
into the "no pay or low pay" demographics.
3. "Flat State Funding" - Funding was reviewed back to 1979, and with the exception of WIC
or Bioterrorism funding, the revenues have been flat. Please support SB 249 (General Aid
to Counties) to help fill this financial gap.
4. Please continue to fund incubator groups (Example: Southern Piedmont Partnership
Incubator Funding)
Crossroads Mental Health Concerns Presented by CEO/Area Director David Swann
1. Expressed difficulty in hiring mental health professionals.
2. Mental health, like the health department, uses eligibility criteria to determine fees, but
this is difficult with the "provider system of care."
3. Crossroads is now able to perform "first examinations," however, the waiver for this
sunsets in July of 2007.
4. The state doesn't distribute funding based on population growth.