May 29, 1979 - 8:40 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

Mav 29 1979The Johnston County Board of Commissioners reconvened at 840 pm, May 29,1979, in the-Commissioners Room of the Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield,North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Vice - Chairman, J E Rogerson,John M Booker, DVM, and James W CashMembers Absent NoneThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business wastransacted1 Budget Presentation - 1979 -1980Kramer Jackson, County Administrator, presented the 1979 -1980 Proposed Budgetto the Board of Commissioners for review and study Mr Jackson also presented thefollowing Budget Message to the board for consideration;In accordance with the Local Government Commissions Budget and FiscalControl Act, the proposed budget for fiscal year 1979 -1980 is herewith submittedfor your considerationAPPRAISED VALUATION The revaluation of property contract has not beencompleted at this date However; based on the completed work, I estimate the totalappraised valuation of real and personal property to be 962,709,773 This amountrepresents an increase in appraised valuation over the 78 -79 Fiscal Year of405,942,598 or a 73 increaseASSESSED VALUATION Based upon the collection ratio of 957o, I estimate eachone cent of the tax rate to produce 91,457BUDGETED AMOUNT The proposed budget has balanced revenues and expendituresof 15,487,043 County Ad Valorem property taxes account for 407 of the budgettotal The one percent local government sales tax accounts for 94 and RevenueSharing funds make up 54 of the total 555 The proposed budget total of 15,487,043 does not include 7,670,176 in publicassistance grants and another approximately,12 million Mental Health operatingbudget since these funds are not maintained by the County Finance Office If allfunds were included, the budget total would be closer to 23 millionEXPENDITURE LEVELS Where possible to do so, I recommend the board holdincreased expenditures to within seven percent of the FY 78 -79 levelSCHOOLS From the period 1974 to 1979, the county has increased countyappropriations to the schools for operational expenses by 1,764,237 This re-presents an increase of 139 in appropriations over the most recent five yearperiod My recommendation is to appropriate the requested amount for CapitalOutlay projects and to limit operational expenditures to a 7 increase586May 29, 1979 ContHEALTH DEPARTMENT There is little question that the Health Department isproviding a valuable service to the needy of Johnston County This service however,continues to escalate rapidly in cost to county government Since 1974, the countyhas increased appropriations to the Health Department by 21770, an increase of379,309 I recommend increased appropriations be held as close as possible to a77o increaseSOCIAL SERVICES Although the Department of Social Services requires thesecond largest appropriation of all departments and agencies, 1,213,049 or onethird the amount required by the schools, the countys appropriations to all SocialServices programs has increased 46 since 1974The Board of Commissioners is mandated to match most of the Social Servicesprograms I do recommend, however, that where possible to do so, the increasedexpenditures be limited to a 77o increaseNEW EMPLOYEES Some new employee positions are requested and so indicatedin the proposed budget The Board will have to consider with care each request fornew employeesSALARIES Salary increases for all employees combined is recommended not toexceed 77o Im sure the board recognizes that a 7 salary increase is inadequateto keep up with inflation rates of 137o The board has indicated that it intends tocomply with the Presidents guidelines on inflation controls In keeping with theintentions of the board and with the guidelines of the President, 7 totalaccumulated salary increases are reflected in the budgetTRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS` I recommend travel reimbursement for use of privatelowned vehicles while on official county businesses be increased from 150 to 170 permileKENLY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION The proposed budget includes the 166,082necessary to cancel the outstanding obligation to the Kenly Industrial CommissionCLAYTON INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION The proposed budget includes 527,458 forthe reduction of the obligation to the Clayton Industrial Commission The 112,770balanceis to be budgeted in Fy 80 -81TAX MAPPING A top priority recommendation in the proposed budget calls for229,699 to be used toward mapping of the county The size of the county along witlthe volume of activity in real estate sales causes us to be more and more inept atmaintaining proper records Tax maps are needed to control our inventory ofproperty and to provide information necessary to help determine the origin ofdivided land Many problems occurred during the present revaluation because wedidnt have property mapsHOSPITAL REQUEST It should be noted that the request for funds fromJohnston Memorial Hospital has been reduced by 107,000 The hospitals requestfor 240,000 is to be used for Capital Outlay itemsTAX RATE The proposed budget reflects ad valorem taxes to produce 6,310,5If this was not —a revaluation year, and if the tax rate was to remain the same, wewould be looking at a tax increase of less than three percent in a year with a 13inflation rateThis proposed budget recommends a tax rate of 0069The board discussed this proposed budget briefly and indicated they wouldtake the proposed budget and budget recommendations home for detail study andreview before discussion in open sessionUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried unanimously, the board adjournedNorman C Denning, ChairmanEleanor N Creech, ClerkJune 14, 1979I