HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1539 (2)addition to the need for more law enforcement officers and jail staff, we have seen an increased need for
more EMS personnel to provide faster response to areas difficult to serve from our present locations.
Although public safety is high on the priority list, the commissioners have also established higher
expectations in insuring that we are more expeditious in our response for services we provide to the builders
and homeowners during this period of accelerated growth. By adding additional inspectors, as well as
adding another person to handle the need for faster plans review, we feel we can come closer to meeting the
expectations of the building public. In response to insuring the protection of our lakes and streams from
abuses of our environment from the actions of a few careless and/or unscrupulous developers, the county is
now enforcing the erosion control laws of the state, and the proposed budget provides for a full year of
enforcement, a responsibility that once was the sole responsibility of the state.
As you review the budget proposal, you will also note a larger than normal increase in Elections. A couple
of factors weigh heavily into this. One major factor is the talk of having an earlier primary. If this occurs,
then expenses will be up for next year. Another efficiency measure that is being proposed is the online voter
books; making it easier to move the lines at the polling places, insuring more voter satisfaction with the
process. It is a shame when we spend three quarters of a million dollars and less than 20% of our
registered voters show up at the polls. Making these changes will take some of the pain out of the process
and hopefully insure a higher turnout.
Of course, as the population increases, and as economic conditions fall off for some, we see increases in the
demand for human services. This has been true in past years and this year is no different. Eleven new
positions are needed in Social Services, and because of some new mandates by the state, new positions are
being requested for the Health Department as well. All in all, there is only a 5% increase in the number of
new positions, and when you consider the fact that it takes 4 people to fill i position in the Sheriffs office,
and it takes 3 people to fill one position in EMS, the real increase is closer to a 4% increase.
The budget further recommends a 2.5% across-the-board increase in salaries, and a set aside for merit
increase up to 4916, based on employee evaluations.
As always, the major increase in the proposed budget is for schools. At the rate the county has to build new
schools, and with the increase in cost to build and properly maintain these schools, this is always going to
be a budget area where we are playing catch-up. In the school current expense budget, the
recommendation proposes a 7.42% increase in the per pupil rate, going from $1,266 to $1,360. Because of
growth, the overall increase in current expense is 9.75%for the Iredell-Statesville School System, and an
overall increase of 20.31% for the Mooresville Graded School District. In total, the increase in
appropriations for schools (including Mitchell College) for FY 08 is $8,853,960 or a 15.45% increase.
When you include capital, debt service and current expense, over 50% of the county funds goes for schools.
As you recall, the board directed that 10.5 cents betaken off the top of the tax rate for school capital. This
10.5 cents will feel the full impact of the 24% increase in valuation.
SOLID WASTE
We can no longer process the solid waste in Iredell County for what we have been charging. The cost of
land, the cost of equipment, and the cost of operations have all increased. New environmental rules dictated
by the state or federal government have not only increased the cost of disposing of the current waste stream,
but is making it more costly to prepare for the future as well. For this reason, the budget does propose an
increase in the tipping fees, and some increases in other charges. Until we as a nation start taking recycling
more seriously, and we start seeing a reduction in the waste stream at the source, we can anticipate regular
increases in the fees we have to charge to bury it in the ground, which is basically the only option we have at
this time.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the Iredell County Board of Commissioners approve the proposed 2007-2008 budget
as presented. If so approved, this will establish the ad valorem (property tax) rate at 44.5 cents per $100
valuation base on the Tax Assessor's estimate of $18,694,000,000 and a collection rate of 96.85%. The
proposal also maintains a fund balance of $22,401,703 which is 14.16%of the General Fund Budget.
Submitted by: Joel Mashburn, County Manager and Budget Officer
Susan Blumenstein, Finance Director and Deputy County Manager
CLOSED SESSION: Pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a) 6 — Personnel, and G.S. 143-318.11
(a) (5) — Property Acquisition, Chairman Norman at 8:10 p.m., made a Eotio to enter into closed
session.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
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