AG 2002 04 15 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS The County makes direct appropriations to several governmental agencies that operate under separately elected or appointed boards. The agencies function autonomously. Budgetary allocations to these agencies are based on non-specific funding criteria. Appropriations should be reviewed carefully to determine if recommendations are consistent with the intent of the County Commission. Appropriations included in this category are: Rescue Squads (Cabarrus County, funding not mandated) · - School funding for 'current expense' (required, level not mandated, but funding levels should not be reduced fi-om prior years allocation, appropriations in this category must be shared between the two school systems on an ADM percentage basis) · School funding for 'capital outlay' (levels not mandated, nor required to be shared between the two school systems on an ADM basis, however, past practice has used the ADM formula for equity) · Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (based on agreement with the state, the county is responsible for a share of construction cost for new buildings and for funding annual facility operational costs) Cabarrus County Economic Development Corporation (funding level not mandated) Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare (multi-county agency, funding not mandated but some regulation exists) Soil and Water Conservation District (funding level not mandated) Fire Districts (funding not mandated, revenues are by specific tax levies within each district and set by the County Commission upon the request fi-om each district's elected board of directors) North Carolina Forest Service (funding not mandated, but established by agreement) Extension Service (funding not mandated, established by agreement) Cabarrus Health Alliance (funding level not mandated, allocation on per capita basis) Convention/Tourism Bureau (funded through a hotel/motel occupancy tax) Cabarms Arts Council (funding level not mandated) YMCA - (capital cost of construction of a swimming facility, funding not mandated, established by agreement) SUMMARY This budget is a planning document. Developed in the spring and adopted by July 1st , it sets the priorities and direction for COunty agencies and staff. It provides an in-depth overview of county government and its intent to deliver services in a fiscally responsible manner. The County Commission retains the final decision making authority in approval of expenditures and establishment of the local tax rate. Several factors beyond local control DO impact upon the local tax levy, quality of services and the county's ability to address quality of life issues. FY01 and FY02 have seen the state government transfer its f'mancial problems to local governments (cities and counties). Those state financial problems have now reached a crisis level and threaten the fiscal soundness on which Cabarrus County has operated for several years. In FY03, the state must address its revenue needs and expenditure priorities in a rational and fiscally sound manner. If not, the impact of the failure to do so will tumble down to the county's level. The state committed to fund $3.7 million in local tax reimbursement revenues to the county for FY03. Failure to do so will impact county operations including educational funding. The state has committed to delete those payments for FY04 and beyond. In place, the state has authorized counties to assume the % cent state sales tax slated to "sunset" June 30e 2003. The cities will share on a percentage basis in those sales tax receipts if the county acts to assume the availability of that resource.