May 30, 2000 - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

10 154 May 30 , 2000 Special Called Meeting The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday , May 30 , 2000 in the Commissioners ’ Meeting Room , Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina with the following members present Present James H Langdon , Jr , Chairman , Cookie Pope , Vice - Chairman , Wade M Stewart , Allen L Mims , Jr , Eleanor N Creech , Jerry F Wood , DDS , and Thomas M Moore Also Present Rick J Hester , County Manager , Patricia Baker , Deputy Clerk to the Board , Mark Payne , Attorney and John R Massey , Finance Director Joyce H Ennis , Clerk to the Board , was absent due to illness in her family 1 Public Hearing - Proposed Fy 2000 - 2001 County Budget The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and invited anyone who wished to comment on the proposed 2000 - 2001 County Budget Rick Hester , County Manager , presented highlights of the Budget and offered his budget message for the Board’s review BUDGET MESSAGE - FY 2000 - 2001 The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2000 - 2001 is hereby presented for your consideration and maintains the current tax rate at 85 cents per 100 valuation A budget is defined as “ a proposed plan for raising and spending money for specified programs , functions , activities , or objectives during a fiscal year ” There is no question that all requests for county funding are important ; however , there are limited available dollars Preparation of the proposed FY 2000 - 2001 budget is the result of the hard work of many individuals in our organization John Massey , Finance Director , deserves much credit for this document A special thanks goes to Leslie Stanfield and the MIS staff for assistance in developing the final budget document into a reader - friendly format Thanks to all the department heads for their dedication and commitment during this process It is truly a six - month process As noted during the recent MGT performance audit , Johnston County has an organization to be proud of Departments are committed to providing top - notch customer service and also understand the importance of fiscal responsibility County government has grown very little in the past year ; however , the pressures due to the County’s rapid growth creates strain within each service agency The proposed General Fund budget is presented to you at 95 million Last year’s approved General Fund budget was 892 million If you subtract the new interest only debt payment of 19 million on the recent 35 million bond sale for new school construction , the overall General Fund budget submitted to you is approximately 43 above last year’s approved budget Please keep in mind that this includes the proposed increases in appropriations for Johnston County Schools and Johnston Community College SCHOOL FUNDING Johnston County Schools are an integral part of our community , and we certainly have a school system of which we can be proud Our population growth has had a major impact on our school system , and this year is no exception In the current 1999 - 2000 fiscal year , Johnston County has appropriated 20,900,000 for current expense , 3,400,000 for capital outlay and over 9,000,000 in annual debt service This past year , voters in Johnston County passed an 83,500,000 bond issue , of which 80,000,000 was designated for our local public school system to fund new construction and renovations countywide The first interest only debt payment of 1,943,700 is budgeted for fiscal year 2000 - 2001 Next year’s debt payment will be significantly higher Please note in the chart below the current year’s school appropriations , their request , and thePage155 recommended amount for current expense as well as capital outlay The Board of County Commissioners , at their May 8 , 2000 meeting , committed 1,200,000 in capital outlay funds and 24,992,044 in local current expense funds for FY 00 - 01 The Board determined the current expense appropriation by multiplying the projected growth in students by the present current expense allocation per student 101659 , then multiplying that figure by a factor of 35 The remaining funds for current expense are the result of adding a transfer of 2,200,000 from capital outlay to those calculated current expense appropriations The total request amount for capital outlay and current expense is approximately 77 above last year’s total The growth factor of 35 should not be applied to the 2,200,000 transfer from capital outlay to current expense in future budgets My recommendation is that the board continue to carefully study calculations in determining future school funding FY 99 - 00 FY 00 - 01 Requested FY 00 - 01 Recommended Current expense 20,900,000 24,992,044 24,992,044 Capital Outlay 3,400,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 TOTALS 24,300,000 26,192,044 26,192,044 Johnston Community College Johnston Community College is another excellent institution in Johnston County and continues to be regarded as one of the best community colleges in North Carolina Please see the chart below for their current year allocation requested amount , and recommended FY 99 - 00 FY 00 - 01 Requested FY 00 - 01 Recommended Current expense 1,681,390 1,855,406 1,742,000 Capital Outlay 330,200 726,265 356,000 TOTALS 2,011,590 2,581,671 2,098,000 Includes auditorium allocation EXPANSION ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN RECOMMENDED BUDGET FIGURES 2 Last year the introduction of the Quick Response Vehicle program was included in the expansion budget The board approved two QRV’s for FY 99 - 00 operations This year’s expansion budget includes two additional QRV’s I would encourage the board to study this request thoroughly before making any decision Total projected cost for QRV’s and personnel is approximately 260,000 per QRV Please remember that funding for this program was not considered in the Barents Group Funding Model 3 There are approximately 800 Johnston County employees There have been 27 new positions requested in this year’s budget I am recommending that you consider approval of fifteen 15 as expansion items Fifteen positions represent a 18 increase in personnel Four of these recommended positions are in Public Utilities and would be funded from the Public Utilities Fund outside of General Fund In addition , 50 of the safety officer position would be funded by the Public Utilities Fund Also , the three positions in Social Services are predominantly funded with federal dollars The net effect on the General Fund is equivalent to eight and one - fourth positions Those positions recommended as expansion items are 1 Safety Officer 50 from Public Utility Fund - 50 from General Fund 1 Community Water Specialist Public Utility Fund 1 Retail Water Service Manager Public Utility Fund 1 Customer Service Representative Public Utility Fund 1 Water Sewer Transmission Mechanic Public Utility Fund 1 Tax Appraiser General Fund 4 Sheriff Deputies for Interstate 40 Hwy 42 business area General Fund 1 Animal Shelter Manager General Fund 1 Social Worker III - Child Protective Services 100 Federally funded 1 Social Worker II - Adult Care Home Case Management 75 Federally funded - 25 General Fund 1 Income Maintenance Caseworker 50 Federally funded - 50 General Fund Page156 1 Billing Clerk Health Department Approximate cost of recommended positions to general fund as expansion 340,000 In addition to the recommended new positions in the expansion section , there were seven additional positions requested by the Department of Social Services , one position in Elections , one position in GIS and two positions in Tax 4 Earl Marett , Social Services Director , has requested funding for an addition to the existing Social Services building due to office space problems A sizable portion of those construction costs would be eligible for federal reimbursement Estimated total cost 25 million Other Items of Interest • A 3 pay adjustment for employees is included in the recommended budget , as well as funding for performance pay • The Department of Public Utilities is requesting fee increases for your consideration • 36 million has been appropriated from reserves General Fund to balance the proposed budget In closing , I hope you’ll find this budget to be a workable , efficient document for the upcoming fiscal year I look forward to working with you during this process Respectfully submitted , Rick J Hester , County Manager The following made presentations to the Board on their budget request A Johnston Community College - Budget Presentation Dr Don Reichard , President , Johnston Community College , asked the Board for additional funding to meet the demands of a growing student body and to improve the services provided to the students at the community college He thanked the Board for their 30 years of great support Dr Reichard stated that the Community College Board of Trustees is requesting the Commissioners concur with an estimated 12 million 10 year energy savings contract with Johnston Controls , Inc This would allow the company to proceed with a detailed study on energy savings for the college Dr Reichard stated he would come back to the board in 60 to 90 days with the exact figure the college will be borrowing He asked the Board of Commissioners to adopt the following resolution which states that the County will not reduce the annual appropriations during this period of energy savings Upon a motion by Commissioner Wade M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Cookie Pope and carried by unanimous vote the Board approved the following resolution RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY BY THE JOHNSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF A GUARANTEED ENERGY SAVINGS CONTRACT BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners the “ Board ” of the County of Johnston , North Carolina the “ County ” as follows 1 The Board hereby finds , determines and acknowledges that 1 the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees the “ Trustees ” plans to enter into a estimated 12 million guaranteed energy savings contract pursuant to GS 143 - 6417 et seq for the purpose of providing certain energy conservation measures authorized thereby the “ Project ” so as to reduce energy consumption and or energy - related operating costs ; b the Trustees intend to finance the Project by entering into an installment contract the “ Contract ” pursuant to GS 143 - 6417C and GS 160A - 20 , as amended ; c the energy savings resulting from the Project are expected to equal or exceed the total costs payable under the Contract as shown in an evaluation performed by a [ licensed architect or engineer ] on behalf of the Trustees ; d the payments under the Contract are not expected to require any additional appropriations to be made to the Trustees nor any increase in taxes ; and 5 the Board does not intend to reduce appropriations to the Trustees based upon a reduction of energy costs in a manner that would inhibit the ability of the Trustees to make the payments under the Contract , provided that the County is not bound in any manner to appropriate fundsPage157 to the Trustees in amount sufficient for the Trustees to make such payments 2 This resolution shall take effect upon its passage B Council on Aging and Johnston County Area Transportation System JCATS Donna Creech , Executive Director , Council on Aging , spoke to the Board concerning the growth of the older population in Johnston County and the need for additional funding Ms Creech asked the Board for an allocation of 66,000 to match state funds The federal and state dollars the Council on Aging will be receiving is about 646,000 in the Home and Community Care Block Grant , which helps pay for eight senior centers and all the activities at these facilities , including home delivered meals , transportation and the information and assistance positions She stated the total request for funds this year is 196,598 , which is about 450 above last year’s request due to the funding of ½ of the volunteer development position and some increase for salaries and benefits Ms Creech stated they were also requesting some help with subsidizing group health coverage for Council on Aging employees Ms Creech , who serves as administrator of JCATS , noted that the County has in the past matched the request for capital funds for additional vehicles She stated that due to the expected increase in mileage this fiscal year , they are requesting a 10 match and road tax of 7,343 for 2 additional vans C Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Addie Rawls , Chairperson of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council , stated the office of Juvenile Justice of Raleigh has allocated funds to Johnston County in the amount of 247,113 She outlined the following programs , which the Council recommended for funding for the following year , three of which were funded in previous years , and one new program ? Court Psychologist Program - This program will allow the County to provide the required counseling of youth who have adjudicated as delinquent and requiring psychological review as part of their disposition in court Recommended funding - 6,500 ? Restitution Program , sponsored by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department , works with juveniles referred by the courts , required to make restitution as part of their sentencing Recommended funding - 62,570 ? Youth Services Program This program includes funding for Hillcrest , an in - house facility in Lee County , since Johnston County has no similar facility It provides structured day reporting , a program to provide continued education and training for youth at risk in long - term suspension from school Recommended funding - 197,892 ? Trade - In Place - Program to work with at - risk youth in an apprenticeship program in the electrical trade This project will prepare youth for a future vocation and will also teach essential life skills Recommended funding - 4,000 ? Administration - supplies , postage and other Council expenses - Recommended funding 1,000 Ms Rawls noted the state has cut their funds over 30,000 The Council has made as many adjustments as possible to downsize the programs ; however , there will be a shortfall of 24,849 , which they respectfully request the County allocate to the programs She asked the Board to approve the recommended allocations and additional funding as soon as possible so the programs can get under way for the coming year D Harbor , Inc Keri Christensen , executive director of Harbor , Inc , stated that over the last two years the need for their services has increased tremendously Most of their funding comes from federal and state dollars , which requires local match money As an organization , they have tried to diversify the funding because of the uncertainty of federal and state dollars They have provided direct services to approximately 1500 victims and educational services to 3800 student and community members throughout the county Ms Christensen is requesting an increase of 5,000 over the amount recommended by the County Manager Total request for the year is 10,000 PagePage pageNumber5158 Chairman Langdon thanked Ms Christensen for her presentation and for what she does to help those people who really need it E Special Olympics Dale Bender , coordinator for Special Olympics in Johnston County , requested funds for a full time position with the County Ms Bender noted she has been accredited and authorized as a coordinator through the State in the World Special Olympics , which is funded by the Kennedy Foundation Ms Bender stated without a coordinator , all programs would cease to exist At the present time , all her work is done on a volunteer basis The Special Olympics program cost 35,000 a year , and since they are a non - profit organization , they have to raise all the money in Johnston County Special Olympics is a year round program provided for the young and the old Ms Bender asked for the Board’s consideration in funding the position in the budget for this year Several Commissioners expressed their appreciation to Ms Bender for her dedication to the Special Olympics Program , and stated they would take her request under advisement F Barry Merrill - Princeton Area Library Supporters Barry Merrill , representing the residents of Princeton and the Princeton area library supporters stated that a volunteer group has been trying for two years to establish a public library in Princeton Plans are now in progress for a joint effort with the Public School System to house a community library within the local school They are requesting a matching grant of 27,500 from the county towards their initial budget of 55,800 Mr Merrill asked for the Board’s consideration of this request in order for them to proceed with the establishment of a cost efficient facility in Princeton that the whole County will be proud of 2 Date Set for Further Budget Discussion Chairman Langdon recommended the Board discuss the budget again on Monday after the regular meeting He stated they will need to set an additional date for further discussion and possible adoption of the budget The Board scheduled a special meeting for Monday , June 19 , 2000 at 7 00 p m for further budget discussion and possible adoption of the budget There being no further business , Commissioner Wade M Stewart moved the Board adjourn Commissioner Cookie Pope seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote _______________________________________ James H Langdon , Jr , Chairman ____________________________ Patricia B Baker , Deputy Clerk _____________________________ Joyce H Ennis , ClerkPage