AG 2002 10 21 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 1, 2002 Frank Clifton, County Manager Cabarrus County PO Box 707 ' Concord, NC 28026 Dear Frank: Attached is a copy of my budget message for FY 2002-2003. I am sending this to you'to call particular attention to page 9 where I outline the plan for what we will have to do if we do not get. the reimbursements or replacement revenues for them. I would appreci .ate it if you would consider sharing this with the County Commissioners to show the impact of not getting replacement revenues. These directly impact services. Also, please note that regardless of what happens the City Council has already appropriated $2.4 million in Fund Balance and our total · budget is less than last year even though we are having to issue $24 million in revenue bonds, most of which are going directly to provide long-term relief for our water situation. These are real needs. FOr example, the new positions are all in our Police Department to support the schools and community policing. The Chief has already assigned a school resource officer to CC Griffin Middle in anticipation that he would get the money and replace the line position. If he does not, this school resource position will have to be pulled so we do not reduce our officers on the street. The school administratiOn has also indicated they eventually want the City to annex the Harris ROad Middle School to get the advantage of City services, and .another resource Officer pOsition was anticipated due to this. You are aware the City of Concord already pays for school resource officers for all other middle schools within the Concord City Limits. The reason all new positions are assigned to .the police department is due to 'our emPhasis On community policing. Some of the biggest issues we hear in our neighborhoods are speeding, traffic calming needs and pedestrian safety issues where there are no sidewalks. To address these we are trying to get enough officers out there to identify with each neighborhood and partner with them to address these issues. This is becoming a big enough issue that we would hate to have to choose between the schools and community policing efforts because they do tie together. Of coUrse, many of the solutions then require infrastructure expenditures. I would also point out the impact on transportation, both in terms of street improvements and pedestrian safety. We are using part of the 2 cent transportation fund to finance the 13 street improvement projects we have implemented or are in the process of implementing. We cannot do any more because we have frozen the rest of this money in case we donot get replacement revenue. You also see street resurfacing money and replacement of some much needed pieces of equipment. I can assure you with the cutbacks we already made combined with very conservative revenue estimates that these are pieces of equipment that if we do not get it will. directly impact the services we can deliver.