BC 2013 05 20 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 20, 2013 (Regular Meeting) FY2014 Budget Highlights Page 1545 1. As Cabarrus grows, our staff continuously and diligently implements new and innovative strategies to maximize outcomes. Sometimes, this means the realignment and restructure of positions to meet the County's operational needs. Just as we did in FY2013, the County has combined assignments to create full -time positions that more - appropriately meet future demands of particular programs and services. 2. Cognizant of future County senior -level management needs, I propose creating assistant director positions within the General Services and Human Services departments; areas accountable for critical incident response. Adding personnel will increase oversight and reduce the disproportionate responsibilities that currently fall to the department directors. The assistant director will take responsibility for a large portion of daily operation management within each department, allowing the director to concentrate on overarching policy and customer service strategies. These positions will also assist the County in meeting the Board's succession planning goals. 3. The consolidation of our human service - related departments (DSS, Transportation and Aging Services) will become effective July 1. The proposed budget includes the addition of several new positions to address current and future challenges with oversight and workload within the department. 4. Additional staff for the Sheriff's department is also included in the budget proposal. The additions will address public safety concerns identified by the Sheriff and the recent staffing study. These new positions will allow the Sheriff to move toward a civilian 911 emergency communications division and reassign more sworn officers to the department's patrol division. It adds a clerical position to process increased demands in gun /concealed weapon permits and works in partnership with the Town of Midland to add four patrol officers to that area of the County. S. The budget recommendation includes a 1.5 percent Cost -of- Living Adjustment (COLA) and reinstatement of performance - based merit increases, per the Board of Commissioners' policies. The proposal also includes funds to perform a market /position study that will compare County salaries against competitive salaries for organizations in our region and state. This is a necessity as we strive to keep our valued employees and recruit quality future employees. 6. Additional school funding for capital- and energy- related needs are included in the FY2014 budget proposal. 7. An increased number of claims have again put a strain on the County's Employee Health Plan is this year. The result was a potential cost increase for FY2014 that experts projected would exceed 18 percent. Based on plan design changes approved by the Board of Commissioners in March for implementation in FY2014, we now project the County will experience only a 7.5 percent increase in health plan costs. Cabarrus County's economy is trending in a positive direction, bringing with it an increased number of residents to whom the County provides services. To address this steady climb, we must identify and prepare for school capital and maintenance needs, and increased demands on our public safety and human service providers. The proposed FY2014 budget meets these top priorities with balance. It streamlines operations and works within a financially responsible business model to sustain and build upon the high -level of service residents of Cabarrus County have grown to expect from their local government. In closing, I would like to recognize staff at all levels of our County government for their commitment to maintain and improve on the programs and services we provide. They have risen to the challenge of doing more with less during multiple years of economic uncertainty. I encourage the residents of Cabarrus to join me and show their appreciation for each one of them. It is through their hard work and dedication that we are able to make the vision of the Board a reality. I especially want to publically thank Ann Wilson, finance director; Paarth Mehta, budget analyst; Becky Crabtree,